68 British Birds, 



Description is quite inadequate to convey any idea of 

 these variations. The bird deserves its name, for it 

 " slaughters " small birds, as well as other animals, 

 and han^s up the carcases in regular shambles. It is 

 wonderful how the frogs, beetles, caterpillars, cock- 

 chafers, birds, etc., which form its food, are fixed so 

 very firmly and tenaciously upon the strong thorny 

 point. — Figs. 4, 5, plate II. 



WOODCHAT SHRIKE— (Z^;/2W rtifus). 



Only a rare and occasional visitant. Breeds in 

 Central and South Europe and North Africa. 



FAMILY II.— MUSCICAPIDiE. 



SPOTTED FLYCATCHER— (;^?^j«V^/^ grisold). 



Beam-bird, Bee-bird, Rafter-bird, Post-bird, Wall- 

 bird, Cherry-chopper, Cherry-sucker, Cobweb-bird. — 

 Many of these names are taken from the familiar 

 site of its nest, or from some of its habits in taking 

 food. It will return to the same post, after a short 

 excursion to seize an insect, ten or a dozen times in 

 succession ; and it will build its nest on a wall, on the 

 end of a rafter or beam, on a rake-head, in a trained 

 wall-tree — in fact, in almost every conceivable place. 

 The nest varies in material and structure, almost as 

 much as in its site. Mo^s, old and new, bents, straws, 

 twigs, hairs, featliers, all are used. It is an amusing 

 little bird,^ and pays many feeding visits to its young, 



1 "It is always pleasant to watch, and its nest is easy to find. 

 One pair had the audacity to build in the wall of the village school. 



