THE RED-BACKED SHRIKE 151 



makes very little attempt at concealment when 

 building ; but its nest is often placed almost out of 

 reach in a high thick thorn hedge. The picture is 

 of one in such a position ; and a very difficult 

 object it was to photograph. We commenced by 

 borrowing a table from a house near ; and on this 

 were piled sundry rickety packing-boxes, and on 

 these the photographer mounted with his camera, 

 while the attendant below held on to the table and 

 boxes so as to prevent a collapse or a fall into the 

 deep ditch alongside. The hen sits very close, but 

 we were prevented through darkness coming on to 

 obtain her likeness. 



When the young brood are about it is amusing 

 to watch the antics of the old male bird. While 

 the young are skulking in the hedgerow, he mounts 

 to a prominent branch, and roundly scolds any 

 intruder to the utmost of his power. Repeatedly 

 hovering, rapidly turning about on the branch, 

 with his handsome tail spread out, and which he 

 turns about in all sorts of queer ways, he utters at 

 regular intervals a loud tak-tak-tak, and is evidently 

 of a very excitable temperament ; and his interested 

 wife sits quietly on a higher branch watching with 

 evident satisfaction the action of her mate. This 

 miniature Hawk, as his habits seem to make him 

 feeds on mice and lizards, as well as bees and, 



