70 
LANIADiE. 
1 N CESS O RES. 
DENTIROSTRES. 
LAN I A DM. 
RED-BACKED SHRIKE, BUTCHER BIRD. 
Lanius collurio. 
PLATE XX. FIGS. III. AND IV. 
The nest of the Red-backed Shrike is built in a thick 
thorn-hedge, or single bush; one which I have observed 
during the past summer was in a thorn-tree, at an eleva¬ 
tion of ten or twelve feet; it is unusually large, and is 
composed of a quantity of coarse materials; the outside 
is formed of the stalks of umbelliferous plants, succeeded 
by moss and fine grass, with a small portion of wool, and 
is lined with slender roots, interspersed with a few hairs. 
The eggs are four or five in number, and are amongst 
the most beautiful of those of our British birds. Figure 
four of the plate represents the usual colouring, in which 
variety they closely resemble those of the other two spe¬ 
cies ; the other figure is from an egg which I took at 
school, and have never since seen equalled. The zone 
of spots is sometimes at the narrow end of the egg. 
Doubts have been expressed whether or not the Red- 
backed Shrike has deserved the name of Lanius, or 
butcher, which has been bestowed upon it. 
I have pleasure in giving my testimony as to its well 
merited possession of the title. Whilst riding through 
one of the well-fenced lanes of Suffolk I observed one 
of these birds, a male, conspicuous from its bright 
plumage, busily engaged with something in the hedge, 
