166 



THE WOOD-CHAT. 



I refer my reader, therefore, to the descriptions published by ornitholo- 

 gists, and particularly to that of Brisson, who has given a most accurate 

 and detailed account. The reader, by consulting the plates in this 

 work, representing a male and a young one of this species, which I 

 brought from the Cape of Good Hope, and by comparing them, either 

 with Buffon's portraits of the same species, killed in Europe*, or, 

 which will be more advantageous still, with similar birds, found in 

 almost every collection, may be convinced, that the species has not, in 

 reality, experienced the slightest change at the Cape. There is, also, 

 in my cabinet, a male wood-chat, brought from Senegal ; and I can 

 positively declare, that the slightest difference is not observable between 

 the three individuals, although they were killed in countries so remotely 

 situated in respect to each other. 



Buffon pretends that butcher-birds are passengers in Europe, — that 

 they regularly depart in autumn, and return in spring. I shall not 

 confidently assert the contrary, — but maintain that such has not gene- 

 rally taken place in the cantons of France; for most true is it that 

 during winter I have killed wood-chats in Lorraine, and have constantly 

 noticed butcher-birds at the Cape, in those months in which Buffon 

 supposes they return to France for the purpose of breeding. 



Besides, if it could be proved that wood-chats retire from certain 

 districts of France to visit and inhabit warmer temperatures, would it 

 not be absurd to imagine that they consequently traverse in their mi- 

 grations such an immense tract of land as that which separates Europe 

 from the southern point of Africa, where this bird is likewise found ? 

 In examining my journals, moreover, I perceive that I killed some of 

 these birds in all seasons of the year in Africa, — and in Europe I did 

 as at the Cape. Their travels do not appear, then, to extend to any 

 considerable distance. I have observed on many occasions, too, that in 

 general these butcher-birds constantly frequent the same cantons ; and 

 if one of these birds, whether the grey butcher-bird, the wood-chat, or 

 the flusher {Lanius Collurio) , has been noticed in any place whatever, it 

 will most certainly be seen there daily, unless it apprehend danger from 

 the sportsman, or be alarmed by too hot pursuit. They have that sus- 

 picious disposition which is common to nearly all birds of prey, and that 

 habitude of appropriating to themselves a domain exclusively for their 

 own predatory excursions, the deposition of their eggs, and select 

 habitation. 



* See Buff., pi, enl. No. 9, f. 2, le male ; and No. 31, f. 1, la female. 



