INTRODUCTION. 1 | 
occasional visitant to this country. It feeds on mice, small 
birds, frogs, lizards, and various insects. The commonest species 
of the genus is the Red-backed Shrike or Butcher-bird (Lanius — 
collurio), and may serve as our type.of the whole group. The 
name of Butcher-bird has been no doubt occasioned from the 
curious habit it has of impaling its prey upon sharp thorns or 
fixing them into clefts. Fragments of its victims, pieces of 
skin, with bleached bones of birds or mice, or the dry hard cases 
Fig. 131. 

The Red-backed Shrike (Landus collurio), 
of beetles may be seen suspended all about in the vicinity of 
its nest, so that the bush supporting them may be compared to 
a small butcher’s shop. This habit is supposed to be due to the 
feet of the Bird not being strong enough to hold its food satis- 
factorily while tearing it with its sharp and toothed bill; so 
that itis convenient for it to have its prey securely fixed by 
such an artifice. It may also be that the food is more welcome 
after having become tender by keeping. There are about 266 
species. 
