156 LANIAD.E. 



food, are frequently observed fixed on thorns in tlie vici- 

 nity of their nests. Mr. Blyth has observed, that where 

 food is abundant, this Shrike leaves the body and hard parts 

 of insects thus impaled, and only eats the softer abdomen. 

 Portions of fur or feathers, and other indigestible parts, when 

 swallowed, are afterwards ejected at the mouth by the Shrikes 

 in the same manner as by F"alcons and Owls. 



The nest made by this species is very large in proportion 

 to the size of the bird, frequently measuring from six to seven 

 inches diameter; it is usually placed rather high in a strong 

 hedge or thick bush ; the nest, shaped like a cup, is gene- 

 rally formed of coarse stalks of plants on the outside, with 

 some moss and fibrous roots within, and lined with bents and 

 a few hairs. The eggs are four or five in number, about 

 eleven lines long by eight lines in breadth, generally uniform 

 in size, but very variable in colour, sometimes pale bluish 

 white, spotted with hair-brown and ash-grey, the spots con- 

 fined to the larger end of the egg, and frequently forming 

 a band ; occasionally they are found of a greenish white, with 

 darker spots ; and in many instances the eggs are pale red- 

 dish white, spotted with two shades of darker red and reddish 

 brown. — Three eggs are exceedingly well represented in Mr. 

 W. C. Hewitson's work. 



The parent birds are clamorous over their young brood, 

 and the little family keep together as long as they remain in 

 this country. 



The Red-backed Shrike is common about London, and in 

 most, if not all, the southern and western counties of Eng- 

 land and Wales, going northward from thence as far as Cum- 

 berland ; but there, as observed by Dr. Heysham, it is rare. 

 It has not, I believe, been observed by Ornithologists in any 

 part of Ireland. North of London, on the east coast, it 

 is found in Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, and Yorkshire ; but oc- 

 casionally only as far north as Northumberland and the 



