THE BED-BACKED SHEIKE. 73 



centre, or even the western side of the country, than in the south- 

 east ;" and this testimony is confirmed by YARRELL, who informs 

 us that " it is common about London, and in most, if not all, of 

 the southern and western counties of England and Wales, going 

 northwards from thence as far as Cumberland, in which county, 

 as observed by Dr. HEYSHAM, it is rare. It does not appear to 

 have been observed by ornithologists in any part of Ireland. 

 North of London, on tne east coast, it is found hi Essex, Suffolk, 

 Norfolk, and Yorkshire ; but occasionally only as far north as 

 Northumberland, and the south-eastern part of Durham. It 

 seems not to have been noticed in Scotland or its islands ; yet it 

 visits Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Russia. From thence 

 southward, it is found m Germany, France, Spain, and Italy. 

 Specimens were sent by KEITH ABBOT, Esq. to the Zoological 

 Society, from Trebizond ; it also inhabits Egypt and North Africa, 

 is included by VALLIANT among the birds of Senegal and the 

 Cape of Good Hope, from which latter country specimens have 

 also been brought by DE. SMITH." 



GILBERT WHITE relates how, on the 21st of May, he procured 

 a male Bed-backed Butcher-bird, which the neighbour who shot 

 it said might easily have escaped his notice, had not the out- 

 cries and chattering of the Whitethroats and other small birds 

 drawn his attention to the bush where it was ; its craw was filled 

 with the legs and wings of beetles ; and BLYTH, in remarking 

 upon this passage in The Natural History of Selborne, says, 

 " J am rather surprised that Mr. White was not familiar with 

 this species, as it abounds in many parts of Surrey, Kent, and 

 Sussex, where it is commonly called 'Jack Baker,' and is well 

 known tt) all persons who take an interest in natural history. It 

 arrives rather late in the season, and both sexes, I think about the 

 same time, which is contrary to the usual habit of migratory 

 birds ; some seasons they are much more plentiful than others. 

 They are found generally about tall and thick maple, or hawthorn 

 hedges, wherein they breed, and may be Commonly seen perched 

 on one of the highest twigs, or, like Fly-catchers, upon the bare 

 branch of some tree growing out of the hedge, or sitting upon a 

 post or paling, always in a conspicuous situation, where their 

 vision can extend over a considerable range, and whence they 

 often dart after the larger passing insects, or upon any small 

 quadruped or bird that lucklessly comes within the sphere of 

 their downward leaping flight ; or they slowly hover along the 

 hedges, often remaining a long time suspended over a particular 

 spot, and then, perhaps, advancing a few yards, and again remain- 

 ing fixed in the air, and when at length they do settle, not un- 

 frequently hovering for some time around the branch on which 

 they are about to alight. When sitting watchfully upon a bough, 



