THE RED-BACKED SHRIKE 277 



coverts, and red back distinguish male from all other British birds. 

 Coloration of female less pronounced, russet-broAvn above and 

 bumsh-white barred with brown beneath, but both sexes charac- 

 terized by their trim, alert pose and a certain fierceness of aspect. 

 Usually perches on topmost twig of bush or hedge, a telegraph 

 wire, or other conspicuous station affording good look-out. Tail 

 frequently raised and depressed, and swung from side to side 

 through a long curve. During flight, which is low and swooping, 

 pointed wings and long tail are noticeable. Song, a sweet warble 

 only audible at close quarters. Alarm-note a harsh " chack, 

 chack," and under great excitement " kaup." Hunger-cry of 

 young a querulous hawk-like %i kee, kee." 



BREEDING-HABITS. Nests in thick clumps of brambles, sapling 

 trees in thickets or straggling hedgerows, usually 3 to 6 ft. from 

 ground, occasionally higher. Nest. Rather large : built of green 

 moss, bents, stalks, etc., neatly lined with fine roots and hair with 

 a little wool or down at times. Often resorts to same breeding- 

 place year after year. Eggs. Usually 5 to 6 in first layings, sets 

 of 7 being rare in England. Although alike in a clutch, they vary 

 much, the ground-colour ranging from decided pinkish to brownish, 

 pale greenish, creamy and even Avhite. The last named sometimes 

 have no markings but as a rule markings form a zone at big end of 

 brown or red-brown spots with leaden shell-marks. Erythristic 

 eggs have always red-brown markings and greenish eggs are marked 

 with umber-brown. Average of 100 British eggs, 22.9 X 17.06 mm. 

 Breeding-season. Usualty towards end May and early in June. 

 Only one brood, but if first nest is destroyed birds will lay two or 

 three times in same locality. Incubation. 15-16 days by hen only 

 (J. H. Owen). Fledging-period. 14-15 days (id.). 



FOOD.- Insects (coleoptera, lepidoptera, orthoptera, hymenoptera, 

 especially Bombus, and diptera). Birds and their young (Chaffinch, 

 Linnet,Yellow Bunting, Meadow-Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, Wren, Sand- 

 Martin, Blue Tit and small young of Pheasant, Red-legged and 

 Common Partridge) ; frog. J. H. Guriiey also records a shrew 

 impaled in a " larder " and Oldham a young bank- vole. 



DISTRIBUTION. England and Wales. Summer-resident (early May 

 to late August). Also autumn and spring passage -migrant. Irregu- 

 larly distributed throughout south and central England and in 

 Wales, chiefly in wooded districts. On west side of Pennine chain 

 breeds very rarely in Cheshire and as far north as Cumberland, but 

 on east side now only nests irregularly in Yorks., except near 

 Sedbergh (north-west) where it is annual. In Durham and 

 Northumberland only a casual visitor. Scotland. Occasional 

 visitor to south-east (the records of its having nested are discredited, 

 cf. Brit. B., n, p. 410). Very rare beyond Forth, and very rare or 

 unknown in west. Has occurred three times Shetlands (the record 



