BIRDS. 117 



Westbury. A fine one was caught near Shrewsbury,in 1897, 

 on limed twigs while in pursuit of a Chaffinch, and another 

 shot at Monkmoor, Shrewsbury, February i8th, 1899. 



Red-backed Shrike or Butcher Bird B., so called from 

 L. collurio. its habit of impaling its prey large 



May i. Aug. in. insects and small mammals, or nest- 

 lings upon thorns. It is, doubtless, 

 for this reason it generally selects a thick thorn-hedge or 

 bush to nest in. The eggs are of two types, with 

 light-grey, or light-red spots ; there are no intermediate 

 gradations, and the two types never occur in the same 

 clutch. It is found sparingly all over the County. 



Waxwing. A handsome bird, named from the curious 

 Ampdis garmlus. appendages to the secondary wing 



feathers which look exactly as if 

 tipped with red sealing wax. A rare Winter visitor, 

 it has occured at Hawkstone, Clunguiiford, Wroxeter, 

 Ironbridge, Leebotwood, 1866, and Wellington, 1871. 

 One was caught in a garden in Abbey Foregate, Shrews- 

 bury, about 1858, and Mr. T. P. Blunt has a specimen 

 shot by his brother at Underdale, about 1863. 



Spotted Flycatcher B. Provincial name, Miller. Common 

 Muscicapa grisola. all over the County in Summer. It 



May i. Sept. n. gets its name from a habit of sitting 



on a tree or rail, whence it darts out on 

 any passing insect, returning again to its perch. The con- 

 spicuous nest escapes detection by resembling an old one. 



Pied Flycatcher B. Rather uncommon Summer visitor ; 

 M. atricapilla. partial to hawthorn trees in parks ; 



Apl. iv. Sept. i. breeds near Ludlow, Shrewsbury, 



Wroxeter, and Hawkstone. 



