292 MR. O. V. APLIN ON THE DISTRIBUTION IN GREAT BRITAIN 
Mr. T. H. Nelson writes me word from Redcar, that a taxidermist 
and bird-catcher there told him he caught two near Redcar twenty 
years ago in early August. They were young birds, and might 
have been bred there (in lit.). 
Lancashire. “ A summer visitor ; still breeding regularly, 
though in decreasing numbers.” Mentioned as having bred at 
Bootle and Brockholes, and Rainhill (1860), and occurring at 
Warrington (1873). Still found in some numbers at Farington 
and Pen wortham, and not at all scarce in the year 1882, in which 
year both young and old were seen at Midge Hall. Nests taken 
in May, 1872, at Haighton ; in June, 1875, at Broughton; and 
May, 1878, at Goosnough. Seen in May, 1882, at Knott End; 
and birds and eggs several times taken between Preston and 
Southport. In the Clitherlioe district, Mr. F. S. Mitchell only 
knew of one nest, viz., on June 3rd, 1860, near Rimington ; but 
on the other side of Pendle Hill, at Colne, Mr. T. Altham said 
that up to a few years ago eggs were taken year alter year. 
Dr. Skaife in 1838 wrote of it as by no means a rare bird in the 
neighbourhood of Blackburn. In Furness, Mr. Durnford reported 
it as once common, and that it was still found in the Lake district 
(vide Mr. F. S. Michell’s ‘ Birds of Lancashire,’ p. 49, 1885). 
Cheshire. Mr. T. A. Coward of Bowdon, near Manchester, 
writes : “ I have no note of the occurrence of ... the 
Shrike .... in Cheshire, though .... reported, 
but on rather slender evidence” (in lit.). 
Lincolnshire. Mr. G. H. Caton Haigli, of Grainsby Hall, has 
never met with it in North Lincolnshire (in lit). 
“ The Red-backed Shrike is of rare occurrence in North Lincoln- 
shire. It occasionally occurs in May on migration in the vicinity 
of the coast on both sides of the Humber, and again in August 
(immature birds). In 1878 a pair nested in Raventhorpe parish, 
near Brigg. Also the nest has been taken in Hibaldstowe parish, 
in the same neighbourhood” (Mr. J. Cordeaux, in lit.). When 
Mr. Cordeaux brought out the ‘Birds of the Humber District’ he 
spoke of it as rare, and had never seen it himself in North 
Lincolnshire. Mr. J. Cullingford wrote of the south of the county : 
“ I have known it to be a regular summer visitor .... for 
a good many years, breeding in the tall hedgerows .... A 
male bird is now in my possession which was obtained there in 
