214 



THE YOUNG NATUEmST. 



oblique streaks connecting rows of these 

 warts, commencing on the fifth segment in 

 front of the spiracle, each streak extending 

 over two segments. The seventh streak is 

 larger and more distinct than the others, 

 and continues along the tail. A streak also 

 extends lengthwise along the second, third, 

 and fourth segment. The head is triangular, 

 rather deeper green in colour, a pale line 

 runs up what may be called the face angles. 

 The front of the head is also triangular in 

 shape, and quite flat. At the crown of the 

 head are two small horns close together. 

 These horns, the jaws, legs, and spiracles 

 are reddish in colour. (The description is 

 from larvae supplied by Miss Hinchliffe, of 

 Worlington House, Nr. Instow, So. Devon.) 



Pupa. — Dark reddish brown, not so 

 rough as that of the next species, and 

 redder. 



Food Plants. — Apple, Pear, Willows, 

 Poplar, and Lime. 



Times of Appearance. — The imago 



emerges in May or June and continues out 

 till July. The eggs hatch in about ten days 

 and the larva are full fed in September. 



Habitat. — Common in the South of 

 England, but less abundant further North. 

 In the most Northern of the English coun- 

 ties it is only of occasional occurrence, and 

 it is not found in Scotland. It seems to 

 have become rather commoner in the North 

 of England during the last twenty years as 

 if it were gradually extending in that direc- 

 lion. It occurs all over Europe, excepting 

 Italy, Turkey, and Greece. It is also found 

 throughout Northern Asia. 



BRITISH BIRDS, THEIR 

 NESTS AND EGGS. 



By S. L. Mosley. 



ORDER II.— INCESSORES. 



This is the largest division of birds we 

 have represented in Britain, and contains 



all the smaller perching birds, both insecti- 

 verous and graminivorous, and some of the 

 larger kind — as the crows. It contains most 

 of those comprised under the older Linnean 

 order " Passeres." Most of the members of 

 this order are insect feeders, and those 

 which feed on grain feed also on insects 

 during the greater portion of the year. 

 Most of them are migratory, and principally 

 come here in the spring to breed, and depart 

 in autumn, though some are winter visitors. 

 It is in this order that we find the voice 

 reach its highest perfection ; and, perhaps, 

 no country in the world is richer in song- 

 birds than Britain. The architecture of the 

 nest is generally more perfect in this than 

 in any other class of birds, and for this 

 the reason figures of the nests will be given 

 of all obtainable species. Throughout this 

 order the immature bird is remarkable for 

 the barred or mottled appearance. The 

 very young are hatched naked or nearly so. 



FAMILY I. LANIADyC. 



This family comprises the Shrikes or 

 Butcher birds. They form a natural con- 

 nection between the birds of prey and the 

 insectivorous birds. The beak has a notch 

 or tooth on the upper mandible, similar to 

 that in the hawks, but they have not the 

 sharp curved talons of the latter class. 

 They live on large insects, small birds, and 

 mice, chiefly the voles and shrews, which 

 they impale upon thorns. 



Genus I. Lanius. 



Lanius, a butcher, from Lanio, I tear. 



Only one species is a native of Britain, 

 though three others have occurred as 

 occasional visitors. 



20. RED-BACKED SHRIKE. 



Lanius coUurio. 

 CoLLURio (Gr.) A name given by Aristole 

 to a bird, probably of the thrush kind. 



Size. — Length about 7in., expanse i2in. 



Plumage.— Male. Bill black; eyes 

 brown. Crown of head, nape, part of back 



