X 



THE RED-BACKED SHEIKE. 



Lan'm* colluris. 



ARIOUSLY known indifferent 

 localities as the " Cheeter," 

 " Fl usher/' ' ' Butcher - bird/' 

 " Jack Baker," and " Whiskey 

 John/' this bird is the com- 

 monest and best known of the 

 British Shrikes. 



The principal characteristics 

 of the family to which the 

 Shrike belongs may be briefly 

 described as follows. The bill 

 is of moderate length, broad at 

 the base and hooked at the tip ; 

 there is a notch or indentation 

 in the mandibles ; the nostrils 

 are situated laterally, and are 

 surrounded with bristles, which 

 are found at the base of the 

 bill as well ; the wings are 

 elongated, and the tail is long 

 and rounded at the end. 



The Red-backed Shrike is 

 one of our migratory birds, 

 coming to us from the south, 



