152 RED-BACKED SHRIKE. 
In summer the Red-backed Shrike is found in Scandinavia and 
Northern Europe as high as about 64° N. lat., and southward 
throughout the greater part of the Continent ; but in the south-west 
it appears to be rare, for Mr. Tait only once obtained it, with its 
nest, in the north of Portugal ; while one shot by Mr. Abel Chap- 
man on April roth is the only specimen recorded from Southern 
Spain, though in the north the bird is found from Catalonia to 
Santander. Comparatively few, in fact, remain to breed in the 
basin of the Mediterranean, although the species is common in 
some parts on passage; but eastward it is found nesting on the 
high grounds of Hermon, Lebanon, and the Altai Mountains. In 
winter its migrations extend to Natal and Cape Colony. 
In the second half of May the nest, large for the size of the bird, 
is placed usually about five or six feet from the ground, in a thick 
thorn-bush or strong hedge, and is made of stalks of plants, moss, 
and roots, with a lining of bents, wool and hair. The 4-6 eggs vary 
considerably, some having the ground-colour of a greenish-white, 
others of a yellowish-clay, and some of a salmon tint; they are 
spotted and zoned with brown, olive or lilac, or blotched with two 
shades of light red and violet-grey: measurements 88 by “65 in. 
Only one brood is reared in the season; the majority taking 
their departure in August in family parties, before their moult, 
though the capture of a young bird is recorded on November 11th 
1869, when in pursuit of a Wren. This Shrike feeds on mice, 
lizards, beetles, humble-bees, wasps and other insects; it has 
been seen to strike down and carry off a Sand-Martin on the wing ; 
while, like its congeners, it impales its prey on thorns, whence its 
trivial name of “ Flusher,” z.e., Flesher. The alarm-note is a harsh 
chack, but the male has a rather sweet song, and is also a good mimic. 
The adult male has the frontal band, lores and ear-coverts black ; 
‘crown and nape grey ; mantle chestnut-brown; wing-feathers brown 
edged with rufous ; tail-coverts grey ; tail-feathers (except the two 
central pairs, which are mostly black) white at their bases and 
black on the lower portion, with black shafts and narrow white 
tips ; chin white; under parts rose-buff; bill, legs and feet black. 
Length 7 in.; wing 3°7 in. The female ordinarily has the upper 
parts and tail russet-brown with faint crescentic bars on the mantle, 
and the under parts buffish-white with greyish-brown semilunar bars; 
but mature females lose the bars, and even assume a plumage like 
that of the male. The young bird is whiter on the forehead, 
duller and less rufous-brown on the upper parts, more barred both 
above and below, and has iron-grey legs. 
