THE RED-BACKED SHRIKE 78 
districts of the midland and southern counties many specimens 
may be annually observed, 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 
Vécorcheur (the flayer), from the custom ascribed to it of skinning 
the bodies of its victims before devouring them. Its habits and 
food are similar to those of the last species, and it is said also to 
possess the same imitative power. That it impales insects and 
even young birds on thorns there can be no doubt as it has been 
watched by a competent observer in the very act of thus dealing 
with the carcase nf a hedge-sparrow. 
A professional bird-catcher told how a Red-backed Shrike once 
pounced on one of his call-birds (a linnet), and attempted to carry it 
off ; but being prevented from doing so by the linnet being fastened to 
the ground by a string and wooden peg, the Shrike tore off the head 
of its victim, with which it made its escape. The bird-catcher then 
drew out from the ground the peg which held down the linnet, and 
left the dead bird lying in the net. In about half an hour the 
Shrike again appeared, pounced upon the body of the dead linnet, 
and carried it off in its beak, with the string and peg hanging to it ; 
the weight of the latter was probably the cause of the Shrike not 
carrying its prey quite away, as it dropped it after flying about 
fifteen yards, when the bird-catcher again picked up the dead 
linnet, and replaced it in the net. The Shrike in the meantime 
retreated to some neighbouring bushes, from which it soon made 
a third pounce upon the nets, this time attacking the second 
call-bird, which was a sparrow. On this occasion, however, the 
bird-catcher was on the watch, and, drawing his nets, captured the 
Shrike, which proved to be an adult female.” This daring act was 
observed late in the month of June, when, perhaps, the courage of 
the mother bird was unusually excited by the cravings of her 
brood at home, and further stimulated by the impression that the 
call-birds were in trouble, and consequently offered an easy prey. 
An amiable trait in the character of this Shrike is its attachment 
to its mate and young. A female has been known to approach so 
close to the cage in which her captured lord was confined, that she 
was herself easily taken ; and when a nest of young birds is molested, 
both parents defend their offspring with astonishing intrepidity. 
The Red-backed Shrike is known to us only as a summer visitor, 
departing early in autumn. Its note is a harsh chuck! but the 
song of the mate is somewhat pleasant. 
