after his upward flight into the air, and he often feeds on the 
ground. 
In the straggling hedgerows of the wooded districts of south 
and central England, and in Wales, one may often come across the 
red-backed shrike ; a very handsome bird, with pointed wings, 
long tail, and low swooping flights. His red back will alone 
distinguish him. No other British bird wears such a mantle. 
And this is set off by a grey crown and nape, and black patches 
on the sides of the head. The topmost twig of a bush, or hedge, 
where he can sight his prey from afar, are his favourite perches. 
On the east coast of England, during the autumn, one may some- 
times see the great-grey shrike, distinguished readily by his large 
size, fan-shaped tail, and grey coloration, relieved by black ear- 
coverts, black wings and tail, “ blazed” with white, and white 
underparts. His flight is undulating and irregular, while just 
before alighting he gives a peculiar upward sweep. 
Strangely enough, not only country boys and girls, but their 
fathers and mothers, not only confuse swallows and martins with 
one another, but these with the swift! Yet they are readily 
distinguishable. All, it is true, have long, pointed wings, and 
forked tails: but their coloration is very different. The swallow 
has the most deeply forked tail of them all, and his steel-blue 
back, red throat, and rufous buff-and-cream under parts are 
unmistakable identification marks. The martin may be distin- 
87 
