THE RED-BACKED SHRIKE. II 
sonally I have never found any of its victims in this unpleasant condition, but 
hundreds of observers have done so.* Its food consists of insects, young and old 
birds (even up to its own size) lizards, and mice: it seizes its prey suddenly, 
dropping upon it when unsuspecting an attack; for, although a migratory bird, 
the Red-backed Shrike is not very powerful on the wing. 
The note of alarm and anger, as already hinted, is a harsh chack or char, the 
call-note a harsh chirp, but the song, though short, is very pleasing. Herr Mathias 
Rausch says (Gefiederte Welt, 1891, p. 446) ‘“‘ The best singer and mocker among 
the rapacious birds is acknowledged to be the Red-backed Shrike or Thorn-piercer 
(Lantus collurio). He is also the commonest and most widely distributed of all, 
inasmuch as he may be found in a wild state throughout nearly the whole of 
Europe. Especially good and varied singers are, however, only to be met with in 
regions rich in birds. I have already owned Red-backed Shrikes, which copied 
the Nightingale, the Golden Oriole, the Quail, the Blackcap, the Garden Warbler, 
the Icterine Warbler, the Meadow-, and Tree-Pipits, and Song-Thrush perfectly, 
and portions of the songs of other birds tolerably well. The only pity is that the 
voice of this bird is so weak, that it is unable to reproduce the song of many 
other cage-birds kept at the same time, but it always repays one to tend and care 
for this songster as a cage-bird; moreover it is easily and cheaply secured, and 
also kept alive without difficulty. This bird, however, should especially be secured 
by such aviculturists as cannot put up with too loud a bird-song, and who make 
a point of not keeping several birds on account of their dissimilarity of song, for 
by its song they will at once be satisfied in both respects.” 
Of course this savage though pretty bird should never be turned into an 
aviary, as it would undoubtedly murder and devour its companions, even though 
as large as itself; a flight cage, therefore, is the most suitable home for it: the 
staple food should consist of egg, pieces of cheese, with the addition of minced 
raw meat, cockroaches, or other insects, and occasionally a dead mouse or bird: 
indeed the food for all the Shrikes should be almost exactly the same as for most 
of the Corving, but somewhat less varied; because many of the latter eat fruit, 
nuts, grain, and even acorns, greedily, as well as the usual soft food. 
It is best to rear this species from the nest; for then it is supposed to become 
very tame and confiding; my brief experience of the bird, caught when quite 
young, and given to me on the rath August, 1896, is that it is as wild as any 
adult bird, and cuts itself all to pieces in its incessant efforts to force its way 
* The Rev. H. A. Macpherson informs me, however, that he has observed both the present species and 
the Woodchat, and Great Grey Shrikes, when engaged in devouring insects piecemeal. He has kept all three 
species in captivity, and is intimately acquainted with their habits in a state of freedom. 
