of the Norfolk and Suffolk Birds. 13 



Genus IX. Lanius. 



1. L. Excubitor (Great Cinereous Shrike). 



The migrations of this species are uncertain. It has been 

 killed in Suffolk in the months of January, April, May, and 

 September. And on the 9th of July 181G we saw a female 

 Cinereous Shrike at Baytham in that county, which made a 

 noise like that of a pair of shears clipping a fence. We are 

 informed by the Rev. George Reading Leathes, that this bird 

 has been frequently seen in the Hyde near Bury (a large wood 

 on the estate of Sir Thomas Gage), and that he has received a 

 specimen shot there. In the autiunn of 1819 four of these birds 

 were sent to Mr. Hunt, which had been killed in Norfolk. Early 

 in December 1819 a Cinereous Shrike frequented a thick thorn 

 hedge, near Mr. Hoy's house at Higham, but was so shy that it 

 could not be approached within gun-shot. On examining the 

 hedge Mr. Hoy found three frogs, and as many mice, spitted on 

 the thorns. He therefore set six very small steel traps, each 

 baited with a mouse. On the following day two of the traps 

 were found sprung, and the baits gone. By watching in con- 

 cealment Mr. II. soon afterwards observed the Shrike to dart 

 down upon a bait, and rise perpendicularly, but not quick 

 enough to escape, as it was caught by two of its toes. The bird 

 was carried alive to the house, and placed in a room in which a 

 thorn bush Avas fixed, and some mice given to it : one of which 

 it was observed through a hole to spit upon a thorn with the 

 greatest quickness and adroitness. 



2. L. Collurio (Red-backed Shrike). 



A nest of this bird, built at Oft'ton, was composed of dried 

 grass and green moss, with a few small twigs of the Clematis 

 vitalba, and lined with fibres. The eggs of the Red-backed 



Shrike, 



