AND IRELAND OF THE RED-BACKED SHRIKE. 
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uncommon there, although he had one from Bradwell Grove in 
1890, and saw another the following year near Filkins on the 
22nd May. About Oxford it becomes much more numerous, but 
retains its character of preferring particular localities. At what 
point as we pass from this district southward to Oxford the 
Red-backed Shrike begins to increase I cannot say, but Mr. F. C. 
Aplin saw one between Woodstock and Oxford on tbe 22nd May, 
1889. Arrived there, the Rev. H. A. Macpherson tells me one or 
two pairs used, in his time, to nest about Binsey and Horsepath, 
and these arc still favourite localities. Mr. F. W. Lambert 
observed a male at the last-mentioned place on the 1st May, 1890, 
and two males and a female about Godstow and Binsey on the 
12th May, 1891. At Cuddoston several pairs are observed every 
summer. From the south of the county — the chalk hill district — 
I have little information. Some years ago it was fairly common 
about Reading, just over the river boundary; but from the little 
data I possess I imagine it is not abundant in the northern part of 
the western side of the Chiltern range. 
Wiltshire. “Not a very abundant species with us, though 
several pairs may be seen annually. They seem to have a particular 
affection for the same spot ; one pair at least, and often more, may 
be seen every year in a small clump of fir trees to the left of the 
Swindon road, just before it passes through Ogbourne St. Andrew. 
Their nests have also been found in the forest” (Mr. E. F. im 
Tluirn’s ‘ Birds of Marlborough,’ 1870, p. 53). 
The Rev. A. C. Smith writes in 1887 : “Frequents our woods 
every summer .... this is one of its most choice localities 
. . . . I have often noticed it at Yatesbury, as well as in 
many other parts of the county.” Mr. Smith feared it had become 
more scarce than it w T as, as he had not seen it for several years. 
It is mentioned as seen in 1886 at Devizes ; and in summer 
between Clyffe and Ililmarton, and at Bayntun (‘Birds of Wiltshire,’ 
1887, p. 122). 
Mr. Arthur H. Macpherson writes: “Out of the last twenty-six 
summers there are records for twenty-five ; in nineteen of which the 
nest was found by a member of Marlborough School .... 
My personal experience of it near Marlborough was that it was 
a regular summer visitor in rather small numbers ” (in Jit.). 
Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. “ Regular summer visitant 
