ENNEOCTONUS COLLURIO 
Butcher Bird. 
Lanius Collurio, Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 136. 
(sriiginosus, Klein, Av., tom. v. f. 8. 
spinitorqiies, Bechst. Naturg. Dentsch., vol. ii. p. 1335. 
Enneoctomis Collurio, Boie, Isis, 1826, p. 973. 
Neither Scotland nor Ireland can enumerate the Butcher Bird in their avifaunas ; yet in England the 
bird is so common during the months of summer, that it may be found all over our southern and western 
counties, from Cornwall to Yorkshire, wherever localities suited to its habits occur. In the last-mentioned 
county, and the adjoining ones of Durham and Northumberland, it becomes more scarce ; and there is no 
evidence of its ever haAung crossed the border. On the continent of Europe its range extends to Sweden 
and Norway, in which latter country I myself saw it, in Christiania Fjord, in June 1856. In these com- 
paratively northern climes, as in our own, and throughout all the countries of Central Europe to the borders 
of the Mediterranean, it is merely a summer visitant. Examples from the Crimea, the furthest east from 
which I have seen it, were sent to Dr. Carte of Dublin. Specimens collected in many parts of Africa prove 
that it ranges widely over that continent. It certainly occurs in Nubia, as I have seen examples which had 
been sent from thence ; and there are others in the British Museum which I believe are from Mozambique. 
It is not usual for any of the northern passerine birds to cross the Equator ; yet we are told by Dr. Smith that 
it occurs still further south than the localities above mentioned, even to within the colony of the Cape. 
It is not until the Hawthorn is in flower, and the grassy meadow bespangled with buttercups, that the 
Butcher Bird, or Red-backed Shrike as it is also called, makes its appearance in England ; before the merry 
month of May, therefore, it must not be looked for. That some counties in England are more favourable 
to it than others is certain. But even there, particular localities must not be overlooked by the ornithologist 
if he wishes to see the bird in a state of nature : thick hedgerows bordering the sides of lanes, and common 
lands where cattle and horses are allowed by law to pasture are its favourite places of resort, as are also the 
sides of low coppices on light soils suitable to insect life : woodland districts are less congenial to its habits, 
and it is seldom or ever seen in such situations. In its disposition it is tyrannical and cruel ; for it will be 
master of the hedgerow, let what bird may attempt to dispute its supremacy; and continual squabbles take 
place between the aggrieved and the aggressor. At one moment the Butcher Bird may be seen driving- 
before it the weaker tenants of the hedge, while at another a Magpie or a Jay will call forth its ire, and 
cause it, by scolding and other manifestations, to evince that the visit is an unpleasant one. On the 
other hand, at his first coming the small birds assemble and mob him for a time ; . at length, however, 
some amicable arrangement appears to be entered into, after which they live at peace. It is necessary, 
nevertheless, for those that are breeding to be vigilant and careful of their young ; otherwise tbe Shrike 
may resume its had character, seize the nestling hy the neck, fly to some covert or bush, and tear it to 
pieces with its powerful bill. This trait of killing young birds, as well as mice and shrews, is, however, 
exceptional ; for its staple food is doubtless insects of every kind and denomination, from the great 
Stag-beetle to the Rose-chafer, Grasshopper, and Dragon Fly. But a few days since I saw a Shrike pounce 
down upon a great Lob-worm at my feet, as large and as long as the quill with which I am writing, and 
carry it away, dangling on each side of his body, to the branch of a tree, when his further operations 
became lost to view; perhaps the bird descended with it again to the ground, or tore it to pieces and 
placed it on some thorn in the neighbouring bush. This singular habit of impaling the food is common, 
I believe, to all the members of the genus, nay to the whole family of the Shrikes ; for I have seen 
the same thing done by a species of an aberrant form, the Cractkus destructor of Australia. If this be 
doubted by any one, and they should be desirous of witnessing tins feat of the Australian bird, they have 
only to drive a sharp-pointed nail through the cage in which it is confined, when it will soon be seen to stick 
its meat, or any other kind of food, thereon. If there be a bare thorn at the end of a hedge, or a small bush 
out in a field in the neighbourhood of tbe situation where the Red-backed Sbrike has taken up his quarters, 
the thorny branches may frequently be seen studded with various objects — perhaps the head of a little bird, 
the mangled remains of a Shrew, a frog’s leg, snails, beetles, and other insects, particularly humble-bees. 
Such an exhibition, however, is not always to be met with ; still, now and then, it may be ; I have seen it 
myself more than once, and I am sure that most country-people have also. The end and object of this 
Shrike’s larder I am unable to say; the thorns are often too weak to be of any assistance to the bird in tearing 
the parts asunder; besides whicb, it is only the useless and rejected portions that are so treated and made a 
