Fam. LANIID2E.
358. L a n iu s m in o r , Om. Lesser Grey Shrike.
As far as has been recorded at present this well-known European
Shrike has been procured chiefly in South-western Africa.
Anchieta has obtained it at Humbe, on the Ounene River, and
the following note appears in Mr. Andersson’s work:—“ This
species is very common in Damara Land during the rainy season ;
but on the return of the dry weather it mostly disappears, though
I believe a few individuals remain throughout the year. These
Shrikes usually perch on some conspicuous tree or other elevated
object, whence they can obtain a good view of what passes around
them; they feed chiefly on insects, which they catch both on the
wing and on the ground. A great number of these birds are often
found in a very limited space and not unfrequently in the same
tree.” The only occurrence that we are aware of in other parts
of South Africa has been the single instance when Mr. Frank Oates
shot two on the Tati River, on the 19fch November, 1874.
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 band; the 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
the outer ones on each side 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; wiDg, 4'7; tail, 4; tarsus, 0'9.
Fig. Sharpe and Dresser, B. Eur. pi. xiii.
359. L a niu s c o il a r is , L. Fiskal Shrike.
This Shrike is more abundant in the neighbourhood of Cape
Town than in any other part of the colony that we have visited. It
appears to affect the vicinity of habitations at all times, as in the
very wild country it is seldom seen. It is bold, daring, and
rapacious, a deadly foe to cage-birds, Canaries in particular, entering
into rooms regardless of the assembled family, and tearing them
from their cages. It preys upon all kinds of small living things ;
and we have seen the spikes of an aloe—a favourite resort of these
birds—garnished with snakes, locusts, small birds, hard-cased
beetles, crabs, lizards, and sometimes even a fish. We have been
assured on good authority that they seize gold-fish out of the
fountains. It builds in trees and bushes, and constructs a nest of
grass, lined with fibres and hair. Eggs, four or five; of a pale grey
colour, blotched at the obtuse end, in the form of a ring, with
greenish and reddish spots ; axis, W ; diam., 9'".
Mr. Guillemard says that the Fiskal Shrike may be said to be
tolerably common throughout the whole of South Africa, wherever
it can find a tree to perch on. Both Victorin and Andersson
procured it at the Knysna, and Mr. Rickard records it both from
Port Elizabeth and East London. We are indebted to Lieut. H.
Trevelyan for specimens from Kingwilliamstown, and Mr. P. A.
Barratt says that he has noticed the species plentifully in British
Kaffraria, as well as in the neighbourhood of Bloemfontein in the
Orange Free State. Captain Shelley says that it is not rare in
Natal, and that he met with it frequently near Durban and
Pinetown. Mr. Buckley obtained a specimen in the Transvaal,
and Mr. P. A. Barratt mentions his having seen it on the Rhinoster
River, a few miles south of the Yaal, and he has also shot it near
Potchefstroom. Mr. T. Ayres writes :—“ This Shrike is about as
plentiful in the Lyaenburg district a» in most other parts of the
country, a single one or a pair may often be seen frequenting some
particular portion of ground.” Senor Anchieta has met with the
species at Ambaca and Caconda in Benguela, and Quillengues near
14° S. Lat., as well as at Humbe, on the Ounene River; it is
common everywhere. Its native name at Biballa is “ Kitiapi,” at
Humbe “ Kissanda-suala.” This last name has been given from its
custom of searching for insects among the heaps of dried leaves on
the ground.
“ This Shrike,” writes Mr. Andersson, “ is common in the southern
and middle parts of Great Namaqua Land, but further north it is
replaced by Lanius subcoronatus; indeed, where the one species
ceases, the other may be said to begin, as, to the best of my belief,
L. coilaris does not exist in any numbers where L. subcoronatus is
found. South of Namaqua Land the Fiskal Shrike is very abundant,
and nowhere more so than in the neighbourhood of Cape Town,
where a pair may be seen in almost every garden. I t is a bold,