WOODCHAT SHRIKE. 169 
In size, in most of its habits, and in its mode of feeding, 
the Woodchat resembles the common Red-backed Shrike, 
and, like that species, is said to imitate the voice of several 
different small birds. Mr. Hoy says, ‘‘it differs from Lanius 
collurio in the choice of situation for its nest, placing it 
invariably on trees, and preferrimg the oak. The nest is 
fixed in the fork of a projecting branch, and is composed 
on the outside of sticks and wool, mixed with white moss 
from the bodies of the trees, and lined with fine grass and 
wool. Eggs four or five in number, rather smaller than 
those of the Red-backed Shrike, and varying much in 
markings; the ground colour being pale blue in some, in 
others, a dirty white, surrounded near the larger end with 
a zone of rust-coloured spots; in some, again, the mark- 
ings and spots are of a paler colour, and more dispersed 
over the egg. It is not a wild bird, often building close 
to houses and public roads. It is abundant in some parts 
of the Netherlands, and arrives and departs about the same 
time as Lanius collurio.” 
This Shrike does not visit the higher northern parts of 
the European Continent ; but is found in Germany and 
France, in which countries it appears in spring, and leaves 
in autumn, as might be expected,—though M. Le Vaillant 
says that he had shot the Woodchat in winter in Lorraine. 
M. Vieillot has remarked that the Woodchat makes choice 
of odoriferous plants for the construction of part of its 
nest; and M. Lichstenstein has noticed the same thing 
in reference to Lanius minor. 
The Woodchat visits Switzerland, Provence, Italy, 
Corfu, Sicily, Malta, the Morea, and Egypt. It is abund- 
ant in North Africa, and is found at Senegal, and as far 
south as the Cape of Good Hope, in both of which latter 
localities it is said to be stationary all the year. 
