File:Britain's birds and their nests (1910) (14732390856).jpg

Identifier: britainsbirdsthe00thom (find matches)
Title: Britain's birds and their nests
Year: 1910 (1910s)
Authors: Thomson, Arthur Landsborough, Sir, 1890- Thomson, J. Arthur (John Arthur), 1861-1933 Rankin, George
Subjects: Birds -- Great Britain Birds -- Nests
Publisher: London : W. & R. Chambers
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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rusty markingstake the form of cloudings. The cock feeds his sittingmate, but does not appear to share in the incubation.Two broods are often reared. The song of this species is very weak, but the abruptcall-note is more noticeable. THE PIED FLY=CATCHER (Muscicapa atricapilla). The Pied Fly-catcher is also a summer visitor, but inmuch smaller numbers than its congener. It breeds onlyvery locally in England and Wales, principally in thenorth and west. In Scotland it is even more scarce andlocal, but has been known to breed as far north asInverness-shire. To Ireland it is only a rare wanderer.The name indicates the chief difference between the plum-age of the two species, but the young of the Pied Fly-catcher are also spotted. The white on the wing andforehead of the adult male make it unmistakable. Thenest of dry grass and roots is lined with hair. It isusually in a hole in a tree, less often in a crevice in awall. The six to nine eggs are pale blue, sometimes witha few reddish specks.
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Plate 95. RED-BACKED SHRIKE—Lamus collurio. Length, 7 in. ; wing, 3-7 in. (Passeres : LaniidEe.)2 I 278 BRITAIN^S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 279 Family, LANIID^ (Shrikes). THE RED=BACKED SHRIKE (Lanius collurio).Plate 95. This species is the common British member of a groupotherwise poorly represented in our islands. Even theRed-backed Shrike, however, is only found regularly in alimited portion of our area, being but a rare wanderer toIreland and the north of Scotland, and an uncommonnester in the south of Scotland and the north and eastof England. In Wales and the southern and midlandcounties of England it nests locally, but in fair numbers.It is a summer visitor, arriving at the beginning of May,and generally leaving in August. Butcher-Bird is another name for this and otherShrikes, and refers to their predatoiy habits. This speciestakes large insects and lizards regularly, as well as miceand occasional small birds. Some of the larger species,such as the Great Gray Shrike, which occu

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