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Show 1870.] ON EUROPEAN SHRIKES. 599 feathers, which are almost entirely of the latter colour ; cheeks entire under surface of the body white ; bill and feet pale yellowish born-colour. This bird is easily distinguishable from other allied species, not only by its pale plumage, but more particularly by the light colour of the beak ; and hence its name. It was described by Mr. Cassin from a specimen in the Museum of the Philadelphia Academy, said to have been obtained in " Eastern Africa." Our description is taken from a specimen in Mr. Sharpe's collection from Nubia (Verreaux); and the bird is probably confined to the Abyssinian subregion. Heuglin says that it occurs in Southern Nubia, Senaar, Kordofan, on the Nile, and in the warmer portions of Abyssinia to the Red Sea. 8. LANIUS MINOR. Adult. Above delicate French grey; wing-coverts black, the least ones mixed with grey ; quills black, the inner web pure white at the base ; the outer web of the primaries also white at the base, forming a broad white alar bar; tbe innermost secondaries narrowly tipped with the same colour ; the four centre tail-feathers entirely black, the next two white at the base and tip, black in the centre of the feather, the next two similar, but with less black, and tbe two outer ones on each are entirely white; a broad black band across the forehead, extending backwards over the eye to the ear-coverts, which are also black ; entire under surface white, tinged on the breast and sides of the body with delicate pink ; bill and feet black. Total length 8 inches, wing 4 ^ , tail 4, tarsus -$j-. The above description is taken from an adult specimen in Lord Lilford's collection. Lanius minor is generally distributed during the summer season throughout Central and Southern Europe, extending as far north as the Baltic provinces ; but in winter it migrates to Southern Africa, whence a great many specimens have been forwarded to England by the late Mr. C. J. Andersson, principally from Damara Land. To the eastward it extends into Siberia, having been recorded as occurring there by Pallas under the name of Lanius vigil. 9. LANIUS EXCUBITORIUS. Lanius excubitoroides, Prevost et Des Murs, Lefebr. Voy. en Abyss, p. 99, t. viii. (1849), excubitorius in plate. Lanius excubitorius, Heugl. Orn. N.-O. Afr. p. 478. Collyrio excubitorius, Gray, Hand-1. of B. i. p. 390 (1869). Lanius princeps, Cab. Mus. Hein. Th. i. p. 73 (1850). Lanius macrocercus, Defil. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1853, p. 290. Lanius kiek, Vierth. Naum. 1852, pt. 2, p. 7; 1857, p. 103. Above pale French grey ; scapulars black ; both upper and under wing-coverts black; quills black, the inner web pure white at the base, tbe outer web of tbe primaries also white at the base, thus forming a conspicuous alar bar; the innermost secondaries faintly tipped with |