THE RED-BACKED SHRIKE 277 



coverts, and red back distinguish male from all other British birds. 

 Coloration of female less pronounced, russet-bro^^^l above and 

 buffish-Avhite barred with brown beneath, but both sexes charac- 

 terized by their trim, alert pose and a certain fierceness of aspect. 

 Usually perches on topmost tAvig of Inisli or hedge, a telegraph 

 wire, or other conspicuous station affording good look-out. Tail 

 frequently raised and depressed, and swung from side to side 

 through a long ciirve. During flight, which is low and swooping, 

 pointed Avings and long tail are noticeable. Song, a sweet Avarble 

 only andible at close quarters. Alarm-]iote a harsh " chack, 

 chack," and — nncler great excitement — "" Ivaup."' Hunger-cry of 

 young a querulous hawk-like " kee, kee." 



Breeding -HABITS. — Nests in thick clumps of brambles, sapling 

 trees in thickets or straggling hedgeroAvs, usually 3 to 6 ft. from 

 ground, occasionally higher. ^esL - Rather large : built of gi-een 

 moss, bents, stalks, etc., neatly lined with fine roots and hair Avith 

 a little Avool or doAvn at times. Often resorts to same breeding- 

 place year after year. £'(/gf.s.— Usually 5 to 6 in first layings, sets 

 of 7 being rare in England. Although alike in a clutch, they vary 

 much, the ground-colour ranging from decided pinkish to broAviiish, 

 pale greenish, creamy and even Avhite. The last named sometimes 

 have no markings but as a rule markings form a zone at big end of 

 brown or red-brown spots Avith leaden shell-marks. Erythristic 

 eggs have always red-broAvn markings and greenish eggs are marked 

 Avith umber-broAvn. Average of lOU British eggs, 22.9X17.06 mm. 

 Breeding-season. — Usually toAvards end May and early in Jime. 

 Only one brood, but if first nest is destroyed birds Avill lay tAvo or 

 three times in same locality. Incubation. — 15-16 days by hen only 

 (J. H. OAA'en). Fledfjing- period. — 14-15 days {id.). 



Food. — Insects (coleoptera, lepidoptera, orthoptera, hymenoptera, 

 especially Bombus, and diptera). Birds and their A'oung (Chaffinch, 

 ,Limiet,Yellow Bunting, MeadoAv-Pipit, YelloAV Wagtail,Wren, Sand- 

 Martin, Blue Tit and small young oi" Pheasant, Red-legged and 

 Common Partridge) ; frog. J. H. Gm-ney also records a shreAV 

 impaled in a '" larder " and Oldham a young bank-vole. 



Distribution. — England and Wales. — Summer -resident (early May 

 to late August). Also autumn and spring passage-migrant. Irregu- 

 larly distributed throughout south and central England and in 

 Wales, chiefly in Avooded districts. On Avest side of Pennine chain 

 breeds very rarely in Cheshire and as far north as Cumberland, but 

 on east side noAV only nests irregiilarly in Yorks., except near 

 Sedbergh (north-west) Avhere it is annual. In Durham and 

 Northumberland only a casual visitor. Scotland. — Occasional 

 visitor to south-east (the records of its having nested are discredited, 

 c/. Brit. B., n, p. 410). Very rare beyond Forth, and very rare or 

 unknown in AACst. Has occurred three times Shetlands (the record 



