AND IRELAND OP THE KED-iUCKEU SHRIKE. 
209 
on the authority of the Itev. II. J. Torre, of Norton Curlieu, that 
at Leamington tliere were a few places where the bird might be 
found (in lit.). 
Mr. .1. S. Elliott, of Sutton Coldfield, writes : “ Fairly distributed 
wherever suitable nesting sites occur” (in lit.). 
Mr. F. Coburn reports that almost every season he receives 
specimens from some part of the county. And that about twenty- 
live years ago some nestlings, taken from a hedge in a garden at 
Chad Valley, Kdgbaston, about two miles from the centre of 
Birmingham, were brought to him (in lit.). 
Mr. C. G. Beale, of Kdgbaston, Birmingham, tells me that he 
does not see it in the neighbourhood of Birmingham ; but adds, 
that it is common in South Warwickshire, where it is called 
“Horse-match” (in lit.). I have previously recorded this as 
a local name for the bird on the Northamptonshire borders 
of Oxon. 
Mr. It. W. Chase writes : “ Common during the summer months 
throughout the county, breeding regularly at Sutton Coldfield, 
Alcester, Knowle, and doubtless other localities; but is especially 
numerous on the borders of Worcestershire” (in lit.). 
At liugby (about 1871— t) I believe it was not very uncommon, 
as the eggs were occasionally brought by boys for side ; but I do 
not remember having seen the bird myself. On the Oxfordshire 
borders it has occasionally been observed and reported to me. 
Mr. -I. Gardner, of Warwick, told me it was fairly common there; 
and 1 have known the eggs taken at Leamington. 
Gloucesteushihe. Mr. W. K. Mann, of Clifton, writes of the 
borders of this county and Somerset, “ A few years since was 
a common species here, but of late years it has become somewhat 
rare” (in lit.). 
Oxfordshire. In North Oxon this Shrike cannot be considered 
as other than a rather rare bird. Since 1 have been collecting 
notes upon the birds of the county, I have only become aware of 
the following instances of its occurrence in this (the northern) 
division. 
1879. A pair with nest and young were taken near the 
brickyard on the road between Broughton and Banbury. 
And I saw at a birdstuffer’s in Banbury, in September, a male 
which had been obtained near there a short time previously. 
