THE WOOD-CHAT. 225 



into the cage, it ate all the food with which it 

 was supplied, as if now its propensity had been 

 satisfied. 



The power of imitating the notes of other birds 

 is shared by another species of this family, the 

 Wood-chat* {Lanius rutilus). Its own tones are 

 not sweet, but it will learn to sing so like a 

 nightingale or linnet, as to deserve a passing- 

 mention among our singing birds. It can, however, 

 be scarcely called a British species, being but 

 occasionally seen in our island, though common in 

 France, Germany, and Italy. It is a larger bird 

 than the flusher, and much resembles it in its 

 habits. 



* The Wood-chat is seven inches and a half in length. Head 

 and neck chestnut; forehead, cheeks, and ear-coverts black ; 

 back black; rump grey; wings and tail black, marked with 

 white; under parts white. 



