BIRDS 117 



character at this period of the year forms an amusing contrast 

 to the animated and even noisy demeanour exhibited upon its 

 Continental breeding-grounds in the season of love, when its 

 vehement chuckling and vivacious gestures can hardly escape 

 the recognition of the most careless. Although suspicious of 

 danger, it is not a very difficult bird to approach whilst intently 

 engaged upon the approach of a Mouse, a Shrew, or a small 

 bird. The temerity which it exhibits, in striking at the decoy 

 linnets of our bird-catchers, occasionally results in the Shrike 

 itself being held captive by the treacherous ' twigs.' Its flight 

 is sometimes lofty and sometimes low, but is always swift and 

 undulating. As regards distribution, it is least common in the 

 southern portion of Lakeland. 



Dr. Gough stated, in 1861, that this Shrike must be looked 

 on as a rare visitor in this part of the north [Kendal], only one 

 specimen having been obtained in his neighbourhood, i.e. at 

 Middleton. Nine years later we find that he had examined 

 three additional specimens, shot respectively on Barbon Fell, 

 on Brigsteer Moss, on the 7th October 1870 at Meathop. A 

 more recent Westmorland bird is the specimen which Woodburn 

 of Ulverston shot near Oxenholme, on October 13th, 1886. This 

 has a single white alar bar ; the white breast shows very slight 

 trace of the vermiculations, which are rarely entirely absent from 

 the Grey Shrikes killed in Lakeland. In January 1887 one 

 of these Shrikes made its appearance in the Eusland valley. 

 Having been shot, it was identified by Mr. C. F. Archibald, who 

 has recently received from the keeper at Eusland Hall another 

 specimen, shot about the end of November 1891. When we 

 enter Cumberland the occurrences of this Shrike become rather 

 more frequent, though chiefly upon the main lines of migration. 

 Among our dales it is always rare, but the Keswick Museum 

 contains a fine bird procured in the heart of the Lake district. 

 In the west of Cumberland the Great Shrike seems to turn up 

 at pretty frequent intervals. Near Whitefield a Grey Shrike 

 was killed in October 1865. Captain Johnson possesses a 

 Grey Shrike killed near Egremont in 1880. The late Mr. W. 

 Dickinson recorded two specimens killed near Workington. 

 Several have been taken near Whitehaven. Mr. Harris has 



