GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 325 



nesting, as in previous years, at Llandderfel, in 

 Merionethshire. 



The Red-backed Shrike, or Butcher-bird, is 

 almost confined to the southern midland coun- 

 ties of England, and although stragglers have 

 been met with occasionally in Scotland, it is 

 always regarded as a rare bird there ; and in 

 Ireland it is quite unknown, Mr. Cordeaux 

 states that he has never observed it in Lincoln- 

 shire. It is always a late comer, seldom, if 

 ever, arriving before the first week in May ; and 

 the earliest date recorded for its appearance 

 in any of the calendars is May 2, on which day 

 it was seen at Ratham, near Chichester. Mr. 

 Donald Mathews has observed, in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Redditch, that it commences nidifi- 

 cation immediately on its arrival. The custom 

 which now prevails of " plashing," or laying the 

 tall hedgerows in which the Butcher-bird de- 

 lights to dwell, has caused it in many localities 

 to forsake haunts where once it was quite nu- 

 merous. This has been- particularly remarked 

 in Middlesex and the counties adjoining. 



