196 
SHRIKES. 
main unconsumed; the Shrikes, at the same time, 
watching the smaller birds, and catching them near 
these hedges. 
Of the two sorts visiting England, one only, we 
believe, breeds here, namely, the Red-backed Shrike 
( Lanius colluvia,) It is one of our latest birds of 
passage, probably coming from a great distance, as 
it is found in the southern part of Africa, as well as 
South America, and also probably because the in- 
sects it prefers are not abundant till late in the 
spring-season. There is another peculiarity worthy 
of notice ; that it is, generally speaking, very rare in 
most parts, confining itself to particular districts, 
such as parts of Essex, the Sussex downs, Wiltshire, 
and Gloucestershire, where it is by no means un- 
common. May not this be attributed to something 
in the soil, or other local causes favourable to the 
production of its favourite food ? If so, it might be 
desirable to ascertain to what species of insect it 
gives the preference, which might lead to some 
curious inferences in natural history, — throwing 
light on the remarkable locality observed so often in 
the animal as well as vegetable world; for, notwith- 
standing the greatest care and attention, although 
not the slightest difference of soil, climate, or situ- 
ation can be pointed out, it has been often remarked 
that an insect, or a plant, abundant in one place, is 
not to be found in another, at no great distance. 
A few years ago, a naturalist, for curiosity, re- 
moved to his garden several webs-full of the larvae 
of the brown-tail moth ( Ph . phceorrheus ), which, 
from its numbers and voracity had been looked 
upon as a perfect scourge where it abounded. For 
