144 RED-BACKED SHRIKE 



In summer the Red-backed Shrike is found in Scandinavia and 

 Northern Europe as high as about 64° N. Lat., and southward, 

 throughout the greater part of the Continent ; but in the south-west 

 it appears to be rare, for Mr. Tait only once obtained it — with its 

 nest — in the north of Portugal ; while one, shot by Mr. Abel Chap- 

 man on April loth, is the only specimen recorded from Southern 

 Spain. Comparatively few, in fact, remain to breed in the basin of 

 the Mediterranean, although the bird is common in some parts on 

 passage ; but eastward it is found nesting on the high grounds of 

 Hermon and Lebanon, and through Asia Minor, Northern Persia^ 

 and Turkestan, to the Altai Mountains. In winter its migrations 

 extend along both sides of Africa to Natal and Cape Colony, and 

 it has even bfeen said to breed in the southern districts. 



The nest, large for the size of the bird, is usually placed about 

 five or six feet from the ground, in a thick thorn-bush or strong 

 hedge, and is made of stalks of plants, moss and roots, with a lining 

 of bents, wool and hair. The eggs, 4-6, vary considerably, some 

 having the ground-colour of a greenish-white, others of a yellowish- 

 clay, and some of a salmon tint spotted and zoned with brown, olive, 

 or lilac, and blotched with two shades of light red and violet-grey : 

 average measurements "88 by "65 in. Only one brood is reared 

 in the season; the majority taking their departure in August in 

 family parties, and before their moult ; although the capture of a 

 young bird is recorded on November nth 1869, when in pursuit of 

 a Wren. This Shrike feeds on mice, lizards, beetles, humble-bees, 

 wasps and other insects ; there is evidence that it will attack and 

 kill almost any bird up to its own size ; and like its congeners, it 

 impales its prey on thorns. The alarm-note is a harsh chack, but the 

 male has a rather sweet song, and is also a good mimic. 



The adult male has the frontal band, lores and ear-coverts black ; 

 crown and nape grey ; mantle chestnut-brown ; wing-feathers dark 

 brown edged with rufous ; tail-coverts grey ; tail-feathers — except 

 the central pair which are mostly black — white at their bases and 

 black on the distal portion, the whole with black shafts and narrow 

 white tips; chin white; under parts rose-buff; bill, legs and feet 

 black. Length 7 in. ; wing 37 in. The female ordinarily has the 

 upper parts and tail russet-brown with faint crescentic bars on the 

 mantle, and the under parts bufifish-white with greyish-brown semilunar 

 bars ; but instances are on record of the assumption of a plumage 

 similar to that of the male. The young bird is whiter on the fore- 

 head, duller and less rufous-brown on thQ upper parts, more barred 

 both above and below, and the legs are iron-grey. 



