Red-Backed Shrike. 123 



taken in that neighbourhood on May 27, 1872. I learn from 

 Mr. Grant that one was killed at Coate, near Devizes, in 1870, 

 and one at Erchfont in 1877. The Right Hon. E. P. 

 Bouverie, of the Manor House, Market Lavington, writes me 

 word that he used to see it last year (1886) on the road to 

 Devizes. The Rev. E. Goddard generally sees it in summer on 

 the road between Clyffe and Hilmarton, though he never sees it 

 at Clyffe ; and Mr. W. Stancomb, jun., sees it at Bayntun. The 

 name Collurio is said by the B.O.U. Committee to signify 



* hooded.' In Sweden it is known as the Allmtin Torn Skata, or 



* Common Thorn Magpie.' In France it is termed VEcorcheur, the 

 4 Flayer' ; in Germany Der Wurger, the 'Strangler' or ' Garotter,' 

 and Der Fleischer, the ' Butcher/ whence no doubt comes the 

 provincial name in some parts of England, the ' flusher.' In Sussex 

 it is known as the ' cheater ' or ' cheeter.' It arrives in May, 

 breeds here, and departs in September for Africa, where Le 

 Vaillant has described it as common in winter. Once, however, 

 Mr. B. Hayward met with one so late as December 4th, which in 

 all probability had met with some accident, and been disabled 

 from migrating with its brethren. The male and female differ 

 greatly in colour ; the former is easily distinguished from the 

 Grey Shrike by its smaller size, and the chesnut red of its back 

 and wing coverts : the female and young birds are reddish brown 

 above, grayish white beneath, speckled and barred with brown : it 

 is a strong active bird, and delights in thick woods and hedgerows. 



There is a third species of Shrike, ' the Woodchat (Lanius 

 rutilus), which very rarely has been taken in Britain, but I 

 believe never as yet in this county, though I possess one in my 

 collection which was killed in the adjoining county of Somerset, 

 within a short distance of Bristol. Though, like the other 

 Shrikes, watchful and wary at other times, it appears to lose all 

 timidity in the breeding- season, and shows remarkable courage 

 in the protection of its young, flying round the head of the 

 intruder and shrieking out its indignation with piercing cries. 

 In Malta, where it is the commonest of its genus, it is known as 

 Buyhiddiem, or ' the Father of Biters.'* This species is common 

 o Ibis for 1864, p. 59. 



