28 THE BIRDS OF CUMBERLAND. 



We have studied this Shrike in confinement on 

 several occasions, and in 1883 kept a brood alive for 

 many months. In July the tarsi and toes of these 

 young birds were of a delicate French grey ; when 

 they died, in December, the light grey had become 

 iron-grey ; and had the birds survived the winter, 

 doubtless these soft parts would have become black, 

 as in the adult bird. 



" On one occasion I had an excellent opportunity 

 of noting the courtship of the Red-backed Shrike. 

 During the forenoon of October 25th, the sunlight 

 happened to stream into my rooms, and fell on the 

 Shrike's cage. 



" The Rock Thrush began to sing and so did the 

 second male Shrike. Twice did the Shrike sing 

 most of the Rock Thrush's song ; as he sang on, his 

 amatory instincts grew, and he began to bow as he 

 sang, raising himself to his full height, and then 

 bowing grotesquely, first on one side and then on 

 the other. As he sang on, he moved backwards 

 and forwards, bowing all the time, until at last he 

 fairly bowed his astonished brother bird off the 

 perch. Presently, there came a pause, and then 

 the singing and bowing set in again ; once more he 

 bowed his fellow off the jDerch, and so pleased was 

 he, that he fired off the rest of his spirits in a con- 

 tinuation of clattering war cries, swaying his tail 

 excitedly ; the jDcrformance ended, he flew wildly 

 backwards and forwards from one end of the aviary 

 cage to the other, as though seized with a paroxysm 

 of migratory fever." (Trans. Cum. & West. Assocn. 

 IX, pp. 101, 102.) 



