296 MR. O. V. APLIN ON THE DISTRIBUTION IN GREAT BRITAIN 
more common on light soils than our stiff clays, and therefore 
probably better known in the southern than the northern division 
of Northamptonshire” (Lord Lilford, ‘Notes on the Birds of 
Northamptonshire,’ vol. i., 1880 — 83, p. 43). 
In recording a nest of these eggs at Wadenhoe on the 15th -Tune, 
1884, Lord Lilford writes that it was only the second instance of 
the finding of its nest in that neighbourhood which had come to 
his knowledge (Zook, 1884, p. 454). A male was caught at 
Thorpe on the 27th June, 1888 (Zool., 1888, p. 460); and the 
species arrived at Lilford in 1889, on the 8th May (Zook, 18S9, 
p. 430). 
The Eev. G. C. Green sends me the following notes : “I used 
to find the bird of frequent occurrence in Northamptonshire when 
I lived there. My father’s living was Everdon, near Daventry, 
and I was there for twenty-five years, though I have left that part 
of the country now for more than thirty years. I fancy the bird 
built regularly in a large double hedge on my father’s glebe. 
I know I shot one or two specimens of young birds of the year 
there one September, when out Partridge shooting, shortly before 
I left; and I used to continually come across specimens all about that 
neighbourhood” (in lit.). In South Northamptonshire, on the 
Oxon boundaries, the Shrike is now decidedly uncommon. I saw 
three local specimens at a village birdstuffcr’s, in Middleton Cheney, 
a few years ago. lie considered them rare, and knew them as 
“ Ilorse-matches.” 
Cambridgeshire. Mr. George Potts, Begent’s Park, N.W., who 
has had considerable experience of this Shrike in other parts of the 
country, writes that he “ never saw it near Cambridge, although 
I had abundant opportunities” (in lit.). 
The Iiev. H. A. Macpherson writes that he “had young from 
Cambs,” and Mr. B. W. Chase has also met with it in this county 
(in lit.). Professor Newton writes: “I take the Bed-backed 
Shrike to be pretty generally distributed throughout this county — 
the fen district excepted, —though it is nowhere numerous ” 
(in lit.). 
Bedfordshire. Mr. J. S. Elliott, of Sutton Coldfield, writes : 
“ Fairly distributed over the whole county ” (in lit.). 
Shropshire. Mr. W. E. Beckwith, of Badbrook House, 
Shrewsbury, in some detailed and valuable ‘ Notes on Shropshire 
