On the Breeding in Captivity oj the Red-backed Shrike. 339


in to renew its food, it eventually did not even trouble to do

this, but merely turned its head to see that I did not attempt to

take it out (as I had been obliged to do when Mr. Grotivold was

preparing its portrait). Always when I passed the cage it

would come to the front and look over to see whether I had

anything for it. It is a confiding disposition like this which

endears a bird to its owner, far more than mere brilliance of

colouring. Scarlet and male Superb Tauagers become fairly

tame in time ; but either docility is inherent in the Orange-bill,

or the poor feeding which the bird had experienced before it

came into my possesion served, by contrast, to render me a

particular benefactor in the bird's estimation; yet even the

Cardinals brought over at the same time were marvellously

steady, so that I should rather be inclined to believe that the

importer was more than ordinarily gentle with his birds ; though

doubtless low feeding does tend to subdue living things.



ON THE BREEDING IN CAPTIVITY OF THE

RED-BACKED SHRIKE.


By Dr. Albert Gunther, Hon. M. A vie. Soc.


On July 31st of last year I bought three young Red-backed

Shrikes. Being well acquainted with the general treatment and

feeding of this species in captivity, I had no difficulty in

rearing the youngsters; they grew into strong birds, became

very tame and confiding towards the people in the house, and

showed themselves always ready for a game, during which they

strike those peculiar attitudes so closely resembling the antics

of young Kestrels or Hobbies. Singularly, I never saw them

playing with each other in the same fashion ; on the contrary,

soon after they had commenced to feed themselves, and to

deposit food each in its own larder, their frequent quarrels

compelled me to separate them. * They had the strongest

objection to the approach of strangers and visitors, and one day,

frightened by a workman, two of them squeezed themselves



* I use for this Shrike an ordinary Thrush’s cage with wooden bars.



