AND IRELAND OF THE RED-BACKED SHRIKE. 
293 
1873 ; and it was known as a summer visitor before that ” (Zool., 
18S3, p. 339). 
Mr. R. W. Chase has also met with this Shrike in Lincolnshire 
(in lit.). 
Norfolk. “ A constant summer visitant, though not in large 
numbers, and breeds regularly in the county ; but is, at the same 
time local in its distribution ” (H. Stevenson, ‘ Birds of Norfolk,’ 
vol. i. p. G2). 
. . . “ Not common. A pair or two generally nest near 
Cromer” (Mr. J. H. Gurney’s Catalogue of the Birds of Norfolk 
in Mason’s ‘History of Norfolk,’ 1884, p. 12). 
Three were seen at Eaton, 21st April, 1884, by the late Mr. H. 
Stevenson (Zool. 1884, p. 371). 
Two pairs nested at Northrepps in 1881, as recorded by 
Mr. J. II. Gurney, who gave a good note on the larder (Zool., 
1881, p. 484). 
In the Norfolk and Norwich Museum are two examples of an 
isabelline variety procured at Thorpe in 18G9. 
In the latest list of Norfolk Birds, by Messrs. Gurney and 
Southwell, this Shrike is entered as “ A summer migrant, not so 
numerous as in the days of the good old ‘bullfinch’ hedgerows” 
(Trans. N. and N. Nat. Soc., vol. iv. p. 2G8). 
Mr. T. Southwell, of Norwich, has kindly given me some 
further particulars relating to the Shrike in this county, lie 
writes : “ I remember, as a youth, this Shrike quite a common bird 
in the neighbourhood of Lynn and Fakenham. I used to find 
numbers of nests in the old ‘ bullfinch ’ hedges of that day, as also 
its ‘ larders.’ About Norwich, and I think all through Norfolk, 
it has been, according to my experience, becoming gradually 
scarcer for many years, and rapidly so for the past few. Recently 
(since I received your MS.) I have asked many of my friends, and 
they all agree with me, that it is much less frequent than formerly; 
and many of them attribute this to the absence of the big fences 
and thorn cover which it loves to frequent” (in lit., 2nd Feb., 
1892). 
Suffolk. The Rev. Julian G. Tuck, Tostock Rectory, writes : 
“ The Red-backed Shrike is common all over this county.” He 
mentions six nests in 1891, three of which he found himself 
(in tit.). 
