34 RED-BACKED SHRIKE WAXWING. 



either tears it to pieces like a hawk, or impales the writhing 

 victim on stout thorns. 



Food. Small birds and mammals, lizards, frogs, insects, 

 beetles, and grasshoppers. 



Nidification. Breeds in Europe. 



KED-BACKED SHEIKE (Lanius collurio). 



Migrant ; April to September. Common enough in certain 

 localities ; most abundant in southern counties, except Corn- 

 wall ; rarer towards the north ; rare in Ireland. 



Haunts. Margins of woods, commons, and the like, where 

 there are good thick hedges. 



Plumage. Band passing from base of bill through eyes to 

 lores black ; upper parts grey, except mantle, which is chestnut- 

 brown. Wings dark brown, edged with chestnut. Two central 

 tail-feathers black, the rest black at the end and white at the 

 base ; under parts buff suffused with rose. Bill and legs 

 black. Length 7 in. Female : upper parts reddish brown, 

 slightly barred ; no black on head , and pale buff eye-stripe. 

 Young almost similar to female. 



Language. A great mimic, uttering notes like several other 

 birds ; one note like a House Sparrow's attempt at song. Call- 

 note a harsh chirp. Alarm-note a harsh " chack." 



Habits. It resembles the other Shrikes in its raptorial 

 habit of capturing its prey and spitting it on thorns near its 

 nest (hence Butcher Bird). When perched at the top of some 

 hedge or tree like a sentinel it utters its chattering notes 

 and jerks its tail. 



Food. Small birds, mammals, and reptiles ; also bees, wasps, 

 beetles, &c. 



Nest. June. One brood only. 



Site. In fork of thick hawthorn hedge, usually. 



Materials. Stalks, roots, and moss, lined with bents, horse- 

 hair, and occasionally some wool ; nest rather large. 



Eggs. Four to six. Dull pinky or buffy white, spotted or 

 zoned with reddish and olive-brown, and purplish grey under- 

 lying. Variable. 



Family AMPELIDJE. 

 WAXWING (Ampelis garrulus). 



An irregular visitor, usually to the northern and eastern dis- 

 tricts, often in considerable numbers. 



Plumage. Frontal band, lores, and chin black. Forehead 

 and crest chestnut-brown ; upper parts light greyish brown, 

 shading into ash-grey towards rump. Wings black, tipped 



