THE GKEAT GlIEY SHIilKE. 63 



when it quits its perch on the summit of one tall tree to 

 Hy to another, it drops and rises again, so as to form a 

 curve like that of a loose rope hung from two tall masts. 

 Another peculiarity of the Shrike is a remarkable power 

 of imitating the song of other birds, which it is said to 

 exercise in order to obtain its food more easily, by beguiling 

 the nestlings of the smaller birds into answering it by 

 a chirrup, and so betraying their retreat. The notes which 

 it has been observed to imitate are those of the Nightin- 

 gale, Robin, Swallow, and Stone-chat. Its proper note is 

 harsh, resembling somewhat that of the Kestril. 



THE RED-BACKED SHRIKE. 



LANIUS COLLURIO. 



Head, nape, shoulders and upper tail-coverts ash-grey, a black band reaching 

 from the gape to beyond the ears ; back, scapulars, and wing-coverts 

 reddish brown ; throat white, passing into rose-ved on the breast and 

 flanks ; wings blackish, edged with reddish brown ; tail nearly even at the 

 end, four middle feathers black tipped witli reddish grey, the rest wliite 

 from the base through two-thirds of their length, the other third black with 

 a white tip ; second primary longer than the fifth. Female : Upper plumage 

 rusty brown, tinged near the nape and tail with ash-grey ; lower white, the 

 sides barred transversely by narrow curved lines ; outer webs and tips of the 

 outer tail feathers yellowish white, four middle ones uniform dusky brown. 

 Length seven inches ; breadth eleven inches. Eggs cream-coloured, greenish, 

 or delicate grey variously mottled and spotted with light brown and ash-grey. 



The Red-backed Shrike, though not generally diffused 

 throughout England, is in certain localities far from un- 

 common. In the wooded districts of the midland and 

 southern counties many specimens may be annually ob- 

 served, and the nest is of frequent occurrence. This is 

 usually placed a few feet from the ground, in the middle 

 of a thick bush or hedge ; and, very unlike that of the 

 rapacious birds, is a massive, well-built structure of twigs, 

 dry grass, and moss, lined with hair and fine roots. This 

 bird is called in France Vecorcheur (the flayer), from the 

 custom ascribed to it of skinning the bodies of its victims 



