182 



RED-BACKED SHRIKE. 



CHEETER. ELTJSHEE. LESSER BUTCHER BIRD. MURDERING 

 PIE. JACK BAKER. WHISKEY JOHN. 



Lanius coHurio, Pennant. Montagu. Bewick. 

 Lanius—A butcher. Collurio — ? 



The species before us is a native of the three quarters of 

 the globe which comprise the old world, being found in 

 Europe — in France, Spain, Germany, and Italy, and even 

 northward — in Russia, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. It is 

 met with in Egypt, the rest of the north of Africa, and so 

 far south as the Cape of Good Hope, as well as in the inter- 

 mediate parts; in Asia Minor also; and Meyer says that it is 

 a native of North America. 



This bird is far from uncommon in the south of England, 

 and occurs, though sparingly, towards the north. In York- 

 shire it has been frequently seen in the West-Riding, being 

 met with, as I am informed by Mr. Allis, senior, occasionally 

 near Huddersfield and York, not very uncommonly near 

 Sheffield and Doncaster, (though I have never seen it near 

 the latter place,) and he says that it breeds occasionally near 

 Halifax, but is becoming scarce. In Dorsetshire I have seen 

 it as a common species; I have also seen it in Kent. 



It is found in Wiltshire, Sussex, Essex, Gloucestershire, 

 Suffolk, Derbyshire, Norfolk, Middlesex, and other southern 

 counties; occasionally in Northumberland, Cumberland, and 

 Durham, and also in Wales; but has not as yet been observed 

 in Ireland and Scotland, which is rather singular, as the 

 latitude of its European range is higher. 



It frequents hedge-rows principally, but also the sides of 

 coppices and woods, and such a place as an old deserted 

 quarry or lime-pit. It is seldom found among trees of large 



