on the Breeding in Captivity of the Red-backed Shrike. 343


July 7U1. To-day the eggs were due to hatch, so I ex¬

amined the nest in the morning, and found four of them

hatched. The fifth young appeared on the following da}'; it was

conspicuously smaller than the others, and survived one day

only. On the nth a second, also of smaller size, died. The

bodies of both were found at a distance from the nest, nearly

in the same place, quite uninjured.


July 8th to 22nd. In the glorious weather which we were

enjoying during this mouth, the surviving young made good pro¬

gress. Both parents fed them ; their jealousy had much abated,

and they never resented my daily examination of the .t. On

one occasion I surprised the male quietly squ hg on the

margin of the nest, with food in his beak, and w ng until it

was demanded from him.


July 23rd. The excitement of the parents indicated some

unusual occurrence; two of the young had left the nest, and the

third followed later in the day. All were on the ground, making

their first attempts at locomotion, but in a more awkward or

helpless manner, than can be seen with Finches or Warblers

which have just left the nest. Whether this want of strength is

common to all Shrike fledgelings, or whether it is due to the

artificial conditions under which the old parents lived, I am

unable to say. Their wing-feathers were so little developed that

it took three days before they could manage to scramble again

into their holly-bush ; and the weaker of the three is still, after

six days, unable to take a flight, however short. Yet in all other

respects they show themselves to be healthy and in normal

condition. I was particularly pleased to see that their instinct

leads them during rain into sheltered or dry places. In the

night of the 26th they were exposed to the fierce downpour of

rain, which flooded London and the suburbs; and it was a great

relief to find all three well in the morning. Probably, the lien

afforded them some protection. The cock always roosts by

himself.


By August 2nd the)'' had made rapid progress in their

growth and strength, although a great part of last week was dull

and showery. The two strongest fly freely about for some

distance, and reach the top-perclies without difficulty ; occasion-



