THE RED-BACKED SHRIKE 75 



districts of the midland and southern counties many specimens 

 may be annually observed, and the nest is of frequent occurrence. 

 This is usually placed a few feet from the ground, in the middle 

 of a thick bush or hedge ; and, very unlike that of the rapacious 

 birds, is a massive, well-built structure of twigs, dry grass, and 

 moss, lined with hair and fine roots. This bird is called in France 

 I'ecorcheur (the flayer), from the custom ascribed to it of skinning 

 the bodies of its victims before devouring them. Its habits and 

 food are similar to those of the last species, and it is said also to 

 possess the same imitative power. That it impales insects and 

 even young birds on thorns there can be no doubt as it has been 

 watched by a competent observer in the very act of thus dealing 

 with the carcase of a hedge-sparrow. 



A professional bird-catcher told how a Red-backed Shrike once 

 pounced on one of his call-birds (a linnet), and attempted to carry it 

 off ; but being prevented from doing so by the linnet being fastened to 

 the ground by a string and wooden peg, the Shrike tore off the head 

 of its victim, with which it made its escape. The bird-catcher then 

 drew out from the ground the peg which held down the linnet, and 

 left the dead bird lying in the net. In about half an hour the 

 Shrike again appeared, pounced upon the body of the dead linnet, 

 and carried it off in its beak, with the string and peg hanging to it ; 

 the weight of the latter was probably the cause of the Shrike not 

 carrying its prey quite away, as it dropped it after flying about 

 fifteen yards, when the bird-catcher again picked up the dead 

 linnet, and replaced it in the net. The Shrike in the meantime 

 retreated to some neighbouring bushes, from which it soon made 

 a third pounce upon the nets, this time attacking the second 

 call-bird, which was a sparrow. On this occasion, however, the 

 bird-catcher was on the watch, and, drawing his nets, captured the 

 Shrike, which proved to be an adult female.' This daring act was 

 observed late in the month of June, when, perhaps, the courage of 

 the mother bird was unusually excited by the cravings of her 

 brood at home, and further stimulated by the impression that the 

 call-birds were in trouble, and consequently offered an easy prey. 



An amiable trait in the character of this Shrike is its attachment 

 to its mate and young. A female has been known to approach so 

 close to the cage in which her captured lord was confined, that she 

 was herself easily taken ; and when a nest of young birds is molested, 

 both parents defend their offspring with astonishing intrepidity. 



The Red-backed Shrike is known to us only as a summer visitor, 

 departing early in autumn. Its note is a harsh chuck 1 but the 

 song of the mate is somewhat pleasant. 



