qf the British Species of Shrikes. 343 



perhaps, not less than three or four hundred yards distant : 

 on its closer approach, he retreats under the turf, and quite 

 conceals himself. It is then the falconer draws out the pigeons 

 where the nets are fixed, which fluttering round generally 

 tempt the hawk to make a stoop at one of them, which if he 

 takes he is inevitably ensnared. While the felcon is near, the 

 shrike continues in his hiding-place, hardly daring to show his 

 head at the entrance of his retreat ; should the falcon be taken 

 or pass over without attacking the pigeons, he cautiously creeps 

 out, yet almost afraid to trust himself on his hillock, looking 

 on every side ; and does not during some time recover from 

 his alarm. He is greatly terrified at the sight of the goshawk, 

 screaming and endeavouring to escape ; as this hawk would 

 even seize him in his hiding-place, should he catch sight of 

 him, which the falcon would not. He does not show much 

 alarm at sight of the kite and different species of buzzards, 

 unless they are very near to him ; so that, by the motions of 

 the butcher bird, the falconer can tell almost with certainty 

 the species of hawk which is approaching him. Were it not 

 for the penetrating eye of the watchful bird, the falconer would 

 sit many dreary hours to no purpose, as he would not know 

 when to pull his pigeons out to lure the hawk. 



The Woodchat (Lanius rutilus) may be numbered among 

 our accidental vimtants, and one of the most rare. Never- 

 theless, it may visit this island oftener than is imagined, as its 

 great similarity to the red-backed species would prevent its 

 being noticed by the unscientific. It is abundant in some 

 parts of the Netherlands. I know of only two instances, within 

 a few years, of its being killed in this country, once near Can- 

 terbury, and another time in the neighbourhood of Swaffham, 

 Norfolk ; which last bird is in the collection of the Reverend 

 R. Hammond of Swaffham. It differs from Lanius Collurio 

 in the choice of situation for its nest, placing it invariably on 

 trees, and preferring the oak. The nest is placed in the fork 

 of a projecting branch, composed on the outside with sticks 

 and wool, mixed with white moss from the bodies of the trees, 

 and lined with fine s-rass and wool. Effojs four and five in 

 number, rather less than those of Lanius Collurio, and varymg 

 much in markings; the ground colour being pale blue in 

 some, in others a dirty white, surrounded near the larger end 

 with a zone of rust-coloured spots ; in some, again, the mark- 

 ings and spots are of a paler colour, and more dispersed over 

 the Qg'g. There is but little difference between the plumage 

 of male and female, in the latter the plumage not being quite 

 so bright. The young in first feather much resemble those 

 of the red-backed shrike. It is not a wild bird, often building 



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