On the Breeding of the Red-backed Shrike. 335


I have often seen the statement that the tail motion both of this

species and of the Redstart is horizontal. After very close

observation I have come to the conclusion that the motion is

(1) generally vertical, (2) sometimes diagonal, (3) sometimes

elliptical, but I have never been able to convince myself that it

is ever truly horizontal. Nevertheless it is not an easy matter

to decide because the motion is so rapid.



ON THE BREEDING IN CAPTIVITY OF THE

RED-BACKED SHRIKE.


(. Further Notice').


By Dr. A. Gunther.


The pair of Red-backed Shrikes — the history of which was

recorded in tli o. Avicultural Magazine , 1904 (page 339) and 1911

(page 37)—have again nested in the present year. This is the

seventh brood produced by these birds in captivity. As already

reported they did not nest last year, and I suspected they had

reached the limit of age for reproductive functions. However,

soon after they had been moved into their usual summer quarters

in the middle of May the hen commenced to sit (20th May) and

the young were hatched on the 6th of June. I had determined to

remove the young from their aviary as soon as they were ready

to leave the nest, as they were dangerously exposed to attack

from their neighbours, a pair of Black-necked Grackles, which

were separated from the Shrikes by wire-netting only. On the

present occasion the young left the nest at the early age of

twelve days. There were five of them, all remarkably strong.

They throve well under artificial feeding, and are now strong on

the wing and perfectly independent.


To my surprise, two days after the removal of the young,

the parent birds re-commenced breeding in the same nest ; and

two eggs were laid on successive days, when, to my great regret,

the hen bird was found dead on the ground below the nest.

The strain of producing the first brood, and shortly afterwards

laying eggs for a second brood was too much for her and ex-



