THE EED-BACKED SHEIKE. 65 



of his call-birds (a linnet), and attempted to carry it off ; 

 bnt being prevented from doing so by the linnet being 

 fastened to the ground by a string and wooden peg, the 

 Shrike tore off the head of its victim, with which it made its 

 escape. The bird-catcher then drew out from the ground 

 the peg which held down the linnet, and left the dead bird 

 lying in the net. In about half an hour the Shrike again 

 appeared, pounced upon the body of the dead linnet, and 

 carried it off in its beak, with the string and peg hanging to 

 it ; the weight of the latter was probably the cause of the 

 Shrike not carrying its prey quite away, as it dropped it 

 after flying about fifteen yards, when the bird-catcher again 

 picked up the dead linnet, and replaced it in the net. 

 The Shrike in the mean time retreated to some neighbour- 

 ing bushes, from which it soon made a third pounce upon 

 the nets, this time attacking the second call-bird, which 

 was a sparrow. On this occasion, however, the bird- 

 catcher was on the watch, and, drawing his nets, captured 

 the Shrike, which proved to be an adult female." This 

 daring act was observed late in the month of June, when, 

 perhaps, the courage of the mother bird was unusually 

 excited by the cravings of her brood at home, and further 

 stimulated by the impression that the call-birds were in 

 trouble, and consequently offered an easy prey. 



An amiable trait in the character of this Shrike is its 

 attachment to its mate and young. A female has been 

 known to approach so close to the cage in which her 

 captured lord was confined, that she was herself easily 

 taken ; and when a nest of young birds is molested, both 

 parents defend their offspring with astonishing intrepidity. 



The Eed-backed Shrike is known to us only as a sum- 

 mer visitor, departing early in autumn. 



