Cassell's book of birds; vol. 2Brehm, Alfred Edmund
Science
Cassell's book of birds; vol. 2
Brehm, Alfred Edmund
Birds
The SOUTHERN SHRIKE (_Lanius meridionalis_) is very similar to, but more
beautiful than the species above described, and is found throughout
Southern Europe and North-western Africa; the male is about ten inches
long and thirteen broad; the wing measures more than four inches, and the
tail four and three-quarters; the female is half an inch smaller than
her mate. The plumage is deep grey upon the upper part of the body, and
white beneath, the breast being shaded with a rich red; the four centre
tail-feathers are black, the eye is brown, the upper mandible dark, and
the lower one light blue; the foot is black.
This bird is, we believe, the only Shrike that remains throughout the
year in Spain; it arrives in Greece about April, and leaves again in
the end of August. Its habits do not differ from those of its congeners
already alluded to. The nest, which is usually placed at the summit of
an olive-tree, is formed of green stalks, woven together, and lined
with sheep's wool and goats' hair; the eggs, four or six in number, are
of a dirty white or reddish white, thickly strewn with brown, grey, or
red spots of various sizes. These eggs are regarded as such dainties in
Spain, that men will often risk their lives in procuring them for the
market.
THE GREY, OR BLACK-BROWED SHRIKE.
The GREY, or BLACK-BROWED SHRIKE (_Lanius minor_), is a beautiful
species, from seven and a half to eight inches broad, and thirteen and a
half to fourteen inches long. The upper part of the body is light grey,
the under side quite white, with the exception of the breast, which is
slightly tinged with pink; the brow and cheek-stripes are black, the
base of the quills is white, and the remaining portion black; the four
centre tail-feathers are black, the next in order white upon the lower
half, with a dark spot upon the inner web, whilst those at the exterior
are entirely pure white. The eye is brown, the beak black, and the foot
grey. The female is exactly like her mate; but the young are dirty white
upon the brow, and yellowish white, striped with grey, upon the under
surface. The Black-browed Shrike is common in some parts of Europe,
especially in Bavaria, Brandenburgh, the south of France, Italy, and
Turkey; but is quite unknown or rarely seen in most other parts of the
Continent. During its migrations it visits Central Africa; we ourselves
have seen it in the Nile provinces as early as September, and have never
observed it in Europe before May. According to Naumann, this species is
by far the most lively and harmless member of its family; its flight is
light and graceful, and its capacity for imitating the voice of almost
any other bird unusually great. Its food consists exclusively of beetles,
butterflies, grasshoppers, and other insects; it also devours larvæ and
chrysalids in large quantities. When in pursuit of prey it shows great
agility, and usually watches its victims in the same manner as its
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