96 



RED-BACKED SHRIKE. 



Its favourite haunts are in the open and on the tall 

 hedgerows. It feeds upon frogs, beetles, caterpillars 

 and small birds ; and when it has killed them, appar- 

 ently the more readily to tear them in pieces, it 

 transfixes them on the thorns of the hedgerows, thus 

 making the hedge serve as a larder, at a good distance 

 from the nest, using a considerable length of hedge 

 for this purpose. Some suppose (from the fact that 



RED-BACKED SHRIKE. 



insects are often found in this way, without having 

 received the slightest injury) that they are placed 

 there as baits for other birds; for it is quite certain 

 that it does feed on others of the feathered tribe. 



The head, neck and upper part of the tail of this 

 bird are slate grey, the back is a rich red brown, 

 shading off on the sides to chestnut red, the tail is 



