Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 1 (1843).djvu/68

40 I have named the birds from Eyton's Catalogue; of those marked with a * I have only one or two specimens, the rest were all common.—Fred. Bond; Kingsbury, Middlesex, December, 1842.

Note on the Red-backed Shrike, (Lanius Collurio). Mr. Selby mentions having seen a hedge-accentor impaled on a thorn by the great ash-coloured shrike (L. Excubitor); and several foreign species of shrike have been observed in the act of seizing their prey: but I am not aware that L. Collurio has been seen doing this, although large insects, which appear to be its usual food, have been frequently found impaled. It is not uncommon in Devonshire and other southern counties, and I once found on the cliffs at Teignmouth (a placefrequented by the bird), a tiger moth (Eyprepia villica) and several large flies (Eristalis) stuck on thorns. —W.R. Hall Jordan; Teignmouth, November 12, 1842.

Note on the Grey Shrike, (Lanius Excubitor). An individual of this species, which I had in confinement for a long time, invariably hung its food round the cage; if half a dozen birds were put in, it hung them all up by forcing their heads between the wires of the cage, and pieces of meat were also fastened up. I never saw the red-backed shrike, impale insects, nor do 1 recollect ever to have found any impaled, here, although the bird is not at all uncommon.—Henry Doubleday; Epping, December, 1843.

Note on the Hawfinch, (Coccothraustes vulgaris). This bird, although pretty common in some localities, seems very partially distributed in England, and there is something a little remarkable in its habits. In the winter of 1835 and spring of 1836, they were extremely common in the forest, associating in large flocks, and feeding upon the seeds of the hornbeam, which were very abundant. In the spring of 1837 I saw fewer birds, and the seed was not abundant, I mean the