57 



RED-BACKED SHRIKE. 



CHEETEB. PLUSHER. 



LESSER BUTCHER BIRD. MURDERING PIE. JACK BAKER. 

 WHISKEY JOHN. NINE KILLER. 



PLATE XXVIII. 



Lanius collurio, PENNANT. MONTAGU. BEWICK. 



THE nest is placed, without much attempt at concealment, in a 

 or bush. It is large for the size of the bird, being from 

 six to seven inches across, somewhat deep like a cup, and is com- 

 posed of the stalks of plants, grass, wool, and moss. It is lined 

 with small roots, and occasionally, it is said, with hair. The edge of 

 the top rather projects over the side. 



G. Grantham, Esq., of East Shalford, near Guildford, has favoured 

 me with the egg of this bird, which I have often in former years 

 taken myself, more or less spotted with red. In general they are 

 pale reddish white, spotted with two shades of darker red and red- 

 dish brown, and the base is encircled by a belt, formed of an 

 irregular conglomeration of the same. Occasionally they are pale bluish 

 white, or white, and sometimes greenish white, spotted with brown 

 and grey, or rufous; they are five or six in number. The band 

 already alluded to has been in some cases found at the narrow end. 

 They vary also in size and shape. 



One variety is of a very pale pink colour, spotted over, but much 

 the most in the place of the band with fine bright red. 



A second is very pale orange pink, with a few faint spots all 

 over of rather a darker shade of the same, obscurely traceable in 

 the way of a belt towards the larger end. 



VOL. I. I 



