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Show 592 MESSRS. DRESSER AND SHARPE [June 23, Collyrio borealis, Baird, B. of N. Amer. p. 324 (1858) ; Coop. & Suckl. Pac. R. Rep. xii. pt. 2, p. 188 (1860); Baird, Rev. N. Am. B.p. 440(1864); Coues, Proc. Phil. Acad. 1866, p. 73 ; Lord, Nat. in Vane. Isl. ii. p. 295 (1866); Sam.B. ofN. Engl. p. 269 (1867); Gray, Hand-1. of B. i. p. 391 (1869). Lanius septentrionalis, Bonap. Sp. Comp. p.30(1827); id. P.Z.S. 1837, p. 112; id. Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 363 (1850); id. Rev. et Mag. 1853, p. 294 ; Cass. Proc. Phil. Acad. 1857, p. 213 ; Murrav, Edinb. N. Phil. Journ. ix. p. 223 (1859). Lanius excubitor (err.), Forst. Phil. Trans, lxii. p. 382 (1772) ; Wils. Amer. Orn. i. p. 74 (1808) ; id. ed. Jard. i. p. 73 (1832) ; Aud. Orn. Biogr. ii. p. 534 (1834). Above French grey, paler on the lower back as it approaches the rump, which, with the upper tail-coverts, is pure white ; a narrow line of white extends across the forehead ; ear-coverts jet-black ; scapulars pale grey, tipped with white ; least wing-coverts grey, tinged with rusty ; wing-coverts black, tbe outer ones tinged with brown ; quills dark blackish brown, white at the base of the inner web, the base of the outer web of the primaries white, showing a small white alar bar; secondaries tipped with white ; tail black, all the feathers, except the two centre ones, white at the extreme base, and all tipped with white, this colour occupying more of the apical portion of each feather till the outermost, which are white along the outer edge and for the greater part of the inner web ; under surface dull white, minutely barred with narrow transverse vermiculations, which become less distinct towards, and are sometimes absent on, the lower abdomen and under tail-coverts ; bill dark horn-brown ; feet black. Total length 9 inches ; of bill from front 0*7, from gape 1*1 ; wing 4*5 ; tail 4*2 ; tarsus 0*9. Female. Similar to the male, but has all the colours less intense, and the whole plumage tinged with ashy brown. There is also, perhaps, not quite so much white on the tail. This is the most powerful species of the genus Lanius, and possesses a most extended range, as it is known to inhabit the whole of the North-American continent from the extreme north down as far south as the Mississipi and Missouri valleys. With regard to its possible occurrence in North-eastern Asia, we adduce the following facts, which are likewise referred to by Prof. Baird (Rev. A m . B. p. 442). Pallas (Zoogr. Rosso-As. i. p. 401) describes a large Grey Shrike which he obtained on the Lena and Jenesei rivers, and which he considers to be different from Lanius excubitor. All ornithologists seem to coincide in the same opinion, viz. that the Lanius major of Pallas is only a large race of L. excubitor; but after comparing skins of the North-American L. borealis carefully with Pallas's description, we think that there is every reason to believe that this was the bird intended by the above author. Nor is there any improbability in this supposition ; for the recent observations of ornithologists are proving the great similarity of the faunae of Eastern Siberia and North-Western America, and we now know that many species are common to these two localities. At all events it seems |