402 BRITISH BIRDS. 



The Yellow Wagtail {M. rail) is one of our regular summer 

 visitors, and is generally common. In colour this bird is yellow 

 and olive ; the head, nape, and hack are pale olive ; chin and 

 lower parts yellow ; a yellow streak is also present over the 

 eyes. The neighbourhood of ponds, canals, and ditches seems 

 its favourite locality ; but they may also be seen near cattle, 

 catching the flies attracted to them. All these birds are 

 insect-feeders, and thus should be encouraged and their nests 

 preserved. 



The Pipits (Anthus) are insectivorous, but weed-seeds are also 

 eaten by them. 



The Sheikbs (Laniid^). 



The Shrikes or Butcher Birds have a rather short compressed 

 bill ; the upper mandible hooked at the point, and with a 

 prominent tooth. The base of the bill is beset with bristly 

 feathers directed forward. Four species are found in Britain ; 

 the Red-Backed Shrike {Lanius eollurio) is the most abundant. 

 This bird arrives in the early part of May, and leaves us again 



in August. The nest, which 

 is large, is placed in a thorn 

 hedge as a rule, some five 

 or six feet from the ground. 

 The food consists of lizards, 

 mice, beetles, bees, and other 

 insects. The food, especi- 

 Fio. 196.— Head of Sheike. ally the insects, are impaled 



(sr'hti^ m'l^red ) ^""""^^ ^^^^'^ coiiwrio). on thorns around the nest, 



hence their common name 

 " Butcher Bird." Three others are found in the summer, 

 namely, the Great and Lesser Grey Shrikes {L. excuhitor and 

 minor), and the "Woodchat (L. pomeranm). The Butcher Bird 

 is looked upon as one of the farmer's friends; but if one ex- 

 amines the larder of these birds one finds as many beneficial 

 and useful insects as injurious ones impaled upon the thorns. 



