BIRDS plumage renders him liable to attract notice, and this usually results in his being shot. 50. Great Grey Linn. Shrike. Lanius excubitor. A regular autumn and winter visitant, met with every year, and a bird likely to attract notice from its colouring. The northern form known as Pallas's grey shrike, which has more white on the wings, also occurs. 51- Red-backed Linn. Shrike. Lanius col/urio. Locally, Butcher-bird. A well-known summer migrant, nesting plentifully in mid-SufFolk, and returning to the same locality year after year with great regularity. A late comer, it is also a late breeder, making its nest about the end of May in a thorn hedge, and usually choosing one which divides two grass fields. If the cock bird is seen perched on a telegraph wire, it may be taken for granted that the nest is not far away. The eggs, though they vary a good deal, are not likely to be mistaken for those of any other bird which breeds in the British Islands, and the variety zoned with deep red and purple is very beautiful. This type however is not found in more than one nest in a dozen. The name of ' butcher-bird ' has been given to this species from its curious habit of impaling bees and small birds on furze- bushes or thorn fences. 52. Woodchat Shrike. Lanius pemeranus, Sparrman A very rare summer visitant, which has only occurred three or four times, the last record being in i860. Three specimens of the lesser grey shrike {Lanius minor), a bird intermediate in size between the great grey and red-backed species, have been obtained in Norfolk, and as it is a southern bird it may on some future occasion be met with in Suffolk. 53. Waxwing. Ampelis garrulus, Linn. A most erratic winter visitant, in some seasons dispersed all over the county, and sometimes not occurring once in a long cold winter. There was a considerable immigra- tion in 1849-50 and another in 1866-7 > during the ffost of 1890-1, which lasted eight weeks, no waxwings were recorded either in Norfolk or Suffolk ; but in the early months of 1893 a good many were obtained, and a keeper near Ixworth shot five in one day. Most local collections contain one or two specimens, and the waxwing is so striking in its appearance that the most unobservant gunner could not pick up one without noticing that his victim was not a common bird. 54. Spotted Flycatcher. Linn. Afuscicapa grisola, Locally, Wall-bird. This well-known summer migrant derives its local name from its habit of building its nest on the bough of a fruit tree or rose trained against a wall. The young birds, when they leave the nest, are as boldly spotted on the back as the young of the mistle-thrush. 55. Pied Flycatcher. Muscicapa atricapilla, Linn. A rather rare spring and autumn migrant, which does not breed in Suffolk. The cock bird, with his jet-black and pure white plumage, is easily recognized, but the female and yoimg might easily escape notice. Another small species, the red-breasted fly- catcher (M. parua), has occurred three or four times in Norfolk, and the male in full plumage rather resembles the robin. 56. Swallow. Hirundo rustica, Linn. A beautifiil and very common summer migrant, appearing about the middle of April, and gladly welcomed by all lovers of nature. A few days of very cold weather with severe hailstorms about the middle of May, 1891, caused the death of many swallows, and several were taken to a bird-stuffer in Bury, who was told by the boys who brought them that ' they kept on dropping down.' As a rule birds suffer far more in hard winters from scarcity of food than from actual cold, but there can be little doubt in this case that the swallows were simply paralyzed by the damp chilly atmosphere. The congregating of swallows and martins before their departure must have been noticed by everybody who takes an interest in bird life, and it is not unusual to see the roof of a church or the top of a house literally covered with them. The southward migration of the swallow extends much farther than is usually supposed, and probably a very few, if any, pass the winter in Europe. 57. House-Martin. Chelidon urbica, Linn. A summer migrant, rather later than the swallow, whose nests can be seen under the eaves of one or more houses in almost every village. These are usually left xmdisturbed, as it is said that ' the martins bring luck to a house,' and it is also supposed to be ' un- lucky ' to molest them. The worst enemy of these birds is the house-sparrow, who often 185 24
