RED-BACKED SHRIKE. • 219 



LVSESSOBES. 



DENTIROSTRES. LANIADM. 



PLATE XLIII. 



RED-BACKED SHRIKE. 



Laniits collurio. 



The most prominent characters of the Red-backed Shrike, 

 which it shares in common with its family, have been already 

 described under the foregoing article, namely, its rapacity, 

 and its cruel mode of feeding on wounded or half-killed prey. 



Thus far we speak of its well known faults. It is also just 

 to mention, as redeeming good qualities, the affection that 

 exists between the male and female of this species, and their 

 great attachment to their young. Of the former we had an 

 opportunity of witnessing an instance, which we think on this 

 account deserves noticing. In the month of June 1837, a 

 male Red-backed Shrike was caught in a garden by a cat ; 

 the gardener, who saw the circumstance, succeeded in rescuing 

 it from the animal the very moment it happened, in time to 

 save its life. It was put into a cage and placed in a sit- 

 ting-room in the house close by. There were several persons 

 in the room at the time ; but notwithstanding their moving 

 about, the female, its companion, came in at the window, 

 settled on the cage, and was secured by one of the party, 

 without attempting to fly away ; they were subsequently both 

 placed in the same cage. 



Respecting their attachment to their young, we have fre- 

 quently remarked that the female will hardly fly from the. 



