Flycatc]iers and Blackcaps. 169 
more than one occasion. Tlie Shrike swallows great pieces of its 
prey at each gulp, taking down feathers, small bones, flesh, skin, 
legs, etc., all the indigeslil)le parts being thrown np again, as 
above stated. 
[Though perhaps not staled by many writers, I think it is 
common knowledge that the Laniidcs eject the indigestible 
portions of their food in the form of pellets. The " Cambridge 
Natural History " is at any rate free from the reproach referred to 
above, as the following quotation shows : — " In the large genus 
" Z,«wz7« which includes all the British Butcher Birds, Z^. 
" bitor, L. vimor,L. pometamis, L. colhirio, of which only 
colhirio breeds in our island Tlie flight is strong and 
"rapid, but undulating and brief ; the food which may be taken 
"on the wing or procured upon the ground, consists of small 
" mammals and birds, insects, snakes, frogs Pellets of the 
" indigestible ])ortions of the food are ejected after eating . . . ." 
# * * —Ed.] 
IbanD-reaiina jf Ivcatcbers ant) Blackcaps. 
By Mrs. K. Wakkkn Vkknon. 
It may be of some slight interest and use to our members 
if I give a few particulars of successful hand-rearing of the above 
two species. 
Spotted Flycatchers : Tiie Flycatchers are the spotted 
variety. The nest was built in a wall where a brick liad fallen 
out, well sheltered from rain but in full view of all passers by. 
The young were fully fledged and looked ready to fly when I 
took them, but, curious to relate, they remained in tlie nest 
nearly a week after I liad them. 
They were reared entirely on green caterpillars and fresh 
auts' eggs for the first few days ; later Galloway's " Life " was 
given occasionally to accustom the birds to it. They are now 
over a month out of the nest, but still want to be fed, fluttering 
their wings and calling loudly if they hear my voice or see me 
pass. They are very partial to strawberries and I give them 
some daily, also banana. 
In greediness they " take the cake," and if I have time I 
sometimes catch them flies, the biggest blue bottle is just a 
delicate and disappears in a moment, then like "Oliver," 
