THE FLUSHER. 35 



douded with pale grey ; the wing coverts are bordered with rust colour ; 

 the quill feathers and tail are black. 



Mode of Taking A cruel method, but the surest, is to place bird- 

 lime on its nest, this being the most wary species of shrike ; but as it 

 bathes freely it may be taken about the middle of the day at its washing 

 place, if near hedges. It is often found drowned in large ponds. 



Attractive Qualities. — Although this species appears endowed with 

 as good a memory as the preceding, its notes are less agreeable, not being 

 so soft, and it introduces some stanzas of its own shrill and harsh warbling 

 into the songs that it imitates, which are those of the nightingale, linnet, 

 redstart, and goldfinch. But this bird is most admired for its beautiful 

 plumage. 



THE FLUSHER. 



Lanius spinitorquus, Bechstein ; Lanius CoUurio, Linn^us ; L'Ecorcheur, 

 BuFFON ; Der rothriickige W'iirger, Bechstein. 



This pretty species seems to form a comaecting link between 

 the pies and the singing birds, so much does it resemble the 

 latter in its different qualities. Its length is a little more 

 than six inches, of which the tail measures three and a quarter. 

 The wings, when folded, cover one third. The beak is black, 

 and the iris of the eyes light brown ; the legs, bluish black. 



In the male, the head, the nape of the neck, the tail coverts, 

 and the thighs, are grey. This colour is lighter on the fore- 

 head and above the eyes. A black band extends from the 

 nostrils to the ears. The beak and wing coverts are of a fine 

 red bro^^^l ; the rump and under part of the body white, 

 slightly tinged with pink on the breast, sides, and belly ; the 

 centre tail feathers are entirely black, the others white at the 

 tip. 



The colours in the female differ considerably from those of 

 the male. All the upper part of the body is dirty reddish 



