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THE RED-BACKED SHRIKE. 

 (Lanius collurio.) 



This Shrike specially likes bushes at the side of a road, 

 or the edge of a wood, and more particularly affects the 

 whitethorn, or sloe bushes; but it sometimes ventures 

 into gardens. It kills more than it can eat, so it impales 

 the superfluous provender on thorns, so as to be ready 

 when the bird feels hungry again, or when the weather 

 is not favourable for hunting. So crickets, grass- 

 hoppers, cock-chafers, and, alas ! also young birds, are 

 sometimes found sticking on thorns. As this bird keeps 

 to its own district, it robs the nests of the small birds in 

 a scandalous way, including that of the White-throat. 



Care, therefore, should be taken to keep this ogre at 

 a respectful distance from the gardens ; he does less 

 harm in the open fields, as he there employs his energies 

 on the mice. 



It is a migrant, and departs at the beginning of 

 autumn, returning not earlier than near the end of April. 

 Wherever it is, its "Geek, geek, geek," is frequently 

 heard. Sometimes also " Treng, treng," reminding us 

 of the Sparrow. It imitates the song of other birds in a 

 remarkable way, even that of the Nightingale, often in 

 this w T ay misleading both man and birds. 



The Red-backed Shrike comes to Great Britain in 

 May. It is the commonest of our own three species; 

 but is becoming rarer each year in Lancashire and 

 Yorkshire, being more often met with in the wooded 

 parts of the Southern counties and in Wales. A hand- 

 some fellow, with his grey head, mantle of chestnut- 



