THE RED-BACKED SHETKE. 71 



eyes are yellowish white ; the cheeks are brown ; the throat, 

 belly, and vent feathers a dirty white ; the neck, breast, and 

 sides, are yellowish white, crossed by dark brown wavy lines. 

 The pen and tail feathers are dark brown, the latter somewhat 

 inclined to red ; the two outermost pen feathers are edged with 

 white, and the rest, with exception of the four in the centre, 

 have white points. 



Habitat. This is almost the latest bird of passage, ar- 

 riving only at the beginning of May. Although it may be 

 met with in the forest valleys where cattle pasture, it is more 

 frequently found in the open country in hedges and bushes, 

 especially in inclosures where horses and cows are kept. It 

 migrates in August, even before the young birds have moulted, 

 in large flocks. Like birds of the same species, this should be 

 kept in a large cage by itself, as if allowed to associate with 

 other birds it soon evinces its natural ferocity. Some years 

 ago I caught one, which refused to eat for three days, although 

 I offered him dead birds, beetles, and other insects. On the 

 fourth day, when I thought he would be too weak to hurt 

 other birds, and might, perhaps, if set at liberty, accustom 

 himself to his food, I let him loose. No sooner was he free, 

 than he seized and killed a Sparrow, before I could come to the 

 rescue. I let him eat it, and put him back into the cage. 

 From that time, as if his fury was satisfied, he ate all that was 

 offered him. 



Foon. -When wild, it destroys great numbers of beetles, 

 maybugs, crickets, grasshoppers, and especially breeze flies, 

 which last are the favourite food of all the Shrikes. These 

 insects it impales on thorns till it has collected enough for a 

 meal. During continuous rainy weather, when insects are 

 not to be found, it catches and impales field-mice, lizards, and 

 young birds. It is incorrectly asserted that it does this to at- 

 tract other birds to the spot. In confinement, its food is the 

 same as that of the preceding species. Insects may be given 

 it, mixed with the Nightingale's paste, to which it soon becomes 

 accustomed, and now and then a little raw or dressed meat. 



Breeding. In a favourable season this bird breeds twice, 

 choosing for its nest some thick bush, frequently the hawthorn. 

 The nest is large, made of roots and coarse grass, mixed with 

 layers of moss and wool, and lined with the finest root fibres. 

 It lays five or six greenish white eggs, rather round in shape, 



