RAMBLE III. 



ALONG THE LANES AND HEDGEROWS. 



WE will devote our next chapter to a ramble 

 down the shady lanes and along the sides of the 

 hedgerows. These places in spring and summer 

 are resorted to by various interesting birds for the 

 purpose of nesting ; in autumn and winter they 

 are the haunt of many others that frequent them 

 for the rich supply of fruits and berries, as well as 

 for their privacy ; whilst in winter especially they 

 are the chosen resting-place of many more in 

 their wanderings about the fields. Some of these 

 dwellers in the lanes and hedgerows are birds of 

 shy and retiring habits, more often heard than 

 seen ; yet others are incessantly perching on the 

 topmost twigs, attracting attention either by their 

 showy plumage, or their loud, persistent song, or 

 even by both. 



A bird whose conspicuous plumage is certain 

 to be noticed by every observer wandering round 

 many of our southern hedgerows, or along the 

 south of lanes where trees abound, is the RED-BACKED 

 SHRIKE (Lanius collurid). There is no over- 

 looking this handsome bird, for it seems to be 

 possessed with the one determination to make 

 itself as conspicuous as possible, either by perching 



