6S British Birds, 



Description is quite inadequate to convey any idea of 

 these variations. The bird deserves its name, for it 

 " slauixhters " small birds, as well as other animals, 

 and hangs up the carcases in regular shambles. It is 

 wonderful how the frogs, beetles, caterpillars, cock- 

 chafers, birds, etc., which form its food, are fixed so 

 very firmly and tenaciously upon the strong thorny 

 point. — Figs. 4, 5, plate II. 



WOODCHAT SHRIKE— (Z^;2/2^i- rufus). 



Only a rare and occasional visitant. Breeds in 

 Central and South Europe and North Africa. 



FAMILY II.— MUSCICAPIDiE. 



SPOTTED FLYCATCHER— (iI/?^.y^/V^/^ grisola\ 



Beam-bird, Bee-bird, Rafter-bird, Post-bird, Wall- 

 bird, Cherry-chopper, Cherry-sucker, Cobweb-bird. — 

 Many of these names are taken from the familiar 

 site of its nest, or from some of its habits in taking 

 food. It will return to the same post, after a short 

 excursion to seize an insect, ten or a dozen times in 

 succession ; and it will build its nest on a wall, on the 

 end of a rafter or beam, on a rake-head, in a trained 

 wall-tree — in fact, in almost every conceivable place. 

 The nest varies in material and structure, almost as 

 much as in its site. Moss, old and new, bents, straws, 

 twigs, hairs, feathers, all are used. It is an amusing 

 little bird,^ and pays many feeding visits to its young, 



1 '* It is always pleasant to watch, and its nest is easy to find. 

 One pair had the audacity to build in the wall of tiie village school 



