278 OUR SUMMER MIGRANTS. 



garotter), and der Fleischer, or butcher, whence 

 no doubt is derived " Flusher," the provincial 

 name by which it is known in some parts of 

 England. The Linnaean name for the genus, 

 Lanius, has the same signification. 



The Red-backed Shrike arrives here some- 

 what later than most of the summer migrants, 

 and is seldom observed before the first week in 

 May. It is generally found in pairs until after 

 the young are hatched and ready to fly, when 

 the families keep together in little parties until 

 the end of August or beginning of September, 

 when they leave the country. 



The note of the Red-backed Shrike resembles 

 the syllables " tsfr tst," or " tsook tsook," 

 loudly uttered, and reminds one a little of the 

 notes of the Whinchat and Stonechat. It has 

 besides a harsh " kurr-r," which it utters when 

 any one approaches the nest, and as it flits from 

 branch to branch, lowering the head, and 

 slowly moving the tail up and down. 



The male is decidedly a handsome bird. It 

 has the head and neck grey, with a broad black 



