BIRD-LIFE IN FIELD AND HEDGEROW. 135 



regularly at both seasons of migration. Possibly 

 the Ring Ouzels follow the river valleys to the 

 moor. 



Another characteristic bird of the hedgerows is 

 the Red-backed Shrike. Here again we have a 

 species set down by some writers to be much rarer 

 than it really is, at least so far as this portion of 

 the South Hams is concerned. It arrives with 

 remarkable punctuality in its old haunts about 

 the first week in May, and from that time onwards 

 until the beginning of September wanders but 

 little from its favourite hedgerow. The wholesale 

 cutting down of tall hedges which has been going 

 on in many parts of our district has disturbed 

 these birds a good deal. They are probably quite 

 as abundant, but more scattered, and many places 

 that formerly contained a pair every summer are 

 now deserted. The Red-backed Shrike is one of 

 the most conspicuous of birds, fond of sitting on 

 the topmost twigs of hedges and isolated bushes, 

 remaining in one spot for hours at a time, and 

 always selecting some post of vantage from which 

 a good look-out for insects and other food can 

 be obtained. They arrive in pairs, live in pairs 

 throughout the summer, and in pairs set off for 



