WOOD-SHRIKE. 2-25 



JNSESSOBES. 



DENTIROSTRES. LAN I ADM. 



PLATE XLIV. 



WOOD-SHRIKE. 

 Lanius rufus. 



This beautiful species of Shrike is very rarely seen in 

 England, and has not many years been included among 

 British accidental visitants. We have once, only, had the 

 pleasure of seeing it alive in a wild state ; this we met with 

 in the richly-wooded part of Surrey, between Hatchland, 

 the estate of Holme Sumner, Esq., and Guildford. The 

 red colour on the upper plumage first attracted our notice 

 to the bird, which sat within four or five yards of us on 

 a thin branch of an oak, where it remained for nearly a 

 quarter of an hour, and allowed us to have a full and 

 distinct view of it ; it did not appear at all alarmed at our 

 near approach, but took very little notice of us. Its attitude 

 and general appearance we have represented in our plate. 



The Wood-Shrike is found in most parts of Europe, 

 from Sweden southward, and inhabits Africa, where it ap- 

 pears to be more generally known than elsewhere. We 

 rather suspect that the vicinity of certain trees in any given 

 district may attract this bird, and we are strengthened in 

 this supposition by the Wood-Shrike being said to construct 

 its nest in the branch of an oak, and to form it of tree 

 moss, such as abounds on oaks, namely, the crisp white 

 moss and the soft bright green ; besides, the bird seen by 



