BRITAIN^S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 279 



Family, LANIID^ (Shrikes). 



THE RED=BACKED SHRIKE 



(Lanius collurio). 

 Plate 95. 



This species is the common British member of a group 

 otherwise poorly represented in our islands. Even the 

 Red-backed Shrike, however, is only found regularly in a 

 limited portion of our area, being but a rare wanderer to 

 Ireland and the north of Scotland, and an uncommon 

 nester in the south of Scotland and the north and east 

 of England. In Wales and the southern and midland 

 counties of England it nests locally, but in fair numbers. 

 It is a summer visitor, arriving at the beginning of May, 

 and generally leaving in August. 



'Butcher-Bird'' is another name for this and other 

 Shrikes, and refers to their predatoiy habits. This species 

 takes large insects and lizards regularly, as well as mice 

 and occasional small birds. Some of the larger species, 

 such as the Great Gray Shrike, which occurs in these 

 islands as a migrant, are much more predatory, regularly 

 carrying off birds up to the size of a Robin. All have 

 the habit of impaling their food on the thorns of some 

 bush which serves them as a ' larder.' The Shrikes possess 

 strong, hooked beaks, and have the habit of disgorging 

 'pellets' of indigestible food. Somehow we should rather 

 expect the Shrikes to resemble those other partly pre- 

 daceous Passeres, the Crows, in having no song. But this 

 is not so ; for, incongruous as it may seem, the male of 

 this species is a sweet songster and a proficient mimic. 

 The ordinary notes, however, are harsh and discordant. 



