THE RED-BACKED SHRIKE. 279 



streak passing from the bill through the eye 

 and ear coverts, the back reddish chestnut, chin 

 white, under parts pale salmon colour, and the 

 wings and tail black, the latter broadly marked 

 with white at the base. 



The hen bird is much plainer in appearance, 

 being of a dull and somewhat mottled brown 

 above, and buffy white beneath, with crescentic 

 brown markings on the breast and flanks. 



The bill in both is short and thick, the upper 

 mandible hooked at the point and prominently 

 notched or toothed, as in a hawk. The feet 

 are strong, with sharp and curved claws, and 

 well adapted for seizing and holding a struggling 

 prey. 



Both birds assist in the construction of the 

 nest, which is a substantial well-built structure 

 of twigs, dry grass, and moss, lined with fibrous 

 roots and horsehair, and is usually placed at 

 some height from the ground in the middle of 

 a whitethorn bush, or thick hedgerow. The 

 eggs, five and sometimes six in number, vary 

 a good deal in colour, being yellowish or greyish 



