I46 CASSELL'S BOOK OF BIRDS. 



The BUTCHER BIRDS PROPER (Enneoctonus) are very easily distinguishable from the 

 above-mentioned groups by their short, strong, and slightly hooked beak, and by the variety of 

 plumage observable in the male and female. This group contains two distinct species, of which we 

 are about to describe the most generally known. 



THE RED-BACKED SHRIKE, OR TRUE BUTCHER BIRD. 



The Red-backed Shrike, or True Butcher Bird (Entieoetonus-Lanius-collurio), is light grey 

 upon the head, nape, and wings ; the mantle is reddish brown ; the breast pale rose-pink ; a black 

 stripe passes above and beneath the eyes ; the quills are of a brownish greyish black, with a light 

 border; the base of each of the secondaries is decorated with a small spot, which, when the wing 

 is extended, combine and form a well-defined line ; the centre tail-feathers are brownish black ; those 

 next in order are white at the roots, whilst the exterior ones are almost entirely white, and tipped 

 with black. The eye is brown, the beak black, and the foot greyish black. The female differs 

 considerably from the male, her body being reddish grey above and of a whitish tint beneath, 

 marked with undulating brown lines. The young resemble the father, but are spotted slightly upon 

 the back. (See Coloured Plate XIV.) The length of this species is seven inches, and its breadth 

 eleven and a half. 



The Butcher Bird is met with in most countries of Europe, from Scandinavia, Russia, and some 

 parts of Siberia, to the south of France and Greece. During its winter migrations it visits the forests 

 of North-eastern Africa, and does not return to Europe until late in the spring. Trees and bushes 

 are the situations it prefers when about to build, and it often makes its nest for years on the same 

 spot, but should it be disturbed, it at once leaves not only the tree but the neighbourhood. In its 

 habits it closely resembles other Shrikes, and in like manner consumes large quantities of insects. 

 The Butcher Bird, however, often continues to kill, long after it has satisfied the cravings of hunger, 

 and pursues small quadrupeds or birds so incessantly as to drive away or destroy all such as have 

 been unfortunate enough to make their homes in its vicinity. This species is constantly in the habit 

 of impaling its captives after they are dead upon thorns, and it is not uncommon to see the bodies of 

 many victims thus secured until their destroyer has recovered his appetite : Naumann tells us that 

 the brain appears to be regarded as the greatest delicacy, and is always eaten fresh. Should a 

 Butcher Bird be disturbed whilst making its meal, it at once takes flight, and does not return. 



The nest, which is usually placed in a thorn bush, at no great distance from the ground, is large, 

 thick, and carefully constructed of straw, hay, or moss, woven firmly and neatly together, and lined 

 with delicate fibres or similar materials. The female, who broods but once in the year, lays five or 

 six eggs (Fig. 4, Plate XVI.), of various sizes, shapes, and colours, more or less resembling those of 

 other Shrikes ; she alone performs the work of incubation, sitting on her nest with such devotion 

 and care that she will allow herself to be captured rather than quit her post. 



The Butcher Bird will frequently live for several years in captivity, and cannot fail to become 

 a favourite, by reason of its wonderful power of imitating not only the voices of its feathered 

 companions, but other sounds, for instance, such as the barking of a dog. 



THE RED-HEADED SHRIKE, OR WOOD CHAT. 

 The Red-headed Shrike (En?ieocto?ius-Phoncus-rufus), or Wood Chat, as it is sometimes 

 called, is seven inches long and eleven broad ; the wing measures three and a half and the tail three 

 inches. In the male, the upper portion of the body is black, the under surface yellowish white, the 

 back of the head and nape are reddish brown, and the shoulders and rump white. The female 

 resembles her mate. The plumage of the young is brownish grey, marked with crescenf-shaped 



