WOODCHAT.
Y CIGYDD GLASS, IN ANCIENT BRITISH. WOOD SHRIKE. WOODCHAT SHRIKE.
Lanius rufus, BRISSON. BEWICK. Lanius rutilus, LATHAM. MONTAGU. Lanius pomeranus, GMELIN.
Lanius—A butcher. Rufus—Red.

This Shrike is found in Europe—in Germany, France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sicily, Italy, Greece, and Russia. In Africa—in Egypt, Senegal, Gambia, the Gold Coast, and at the Cape of Good Hope. In Asia, in Turkey, Palestine, Persia, and Arabia.
The following are the only specimens of the Woodchat that appear to have been recorded as having occurred in England—In Yorkshire, one; in Kent, two, one of them near Canterbury; in Sussex, near Brighton; in Devonshire, at Plymouth; in Hampshire, where it has been known to breed twice in the Isle of Wight, at Freshwater, and a young bird was shot in September, 1856; others in Hertfordshire, and Nottinghamshire. In Norfolk, two, one of them near Swaffham; in Suffolk, four or five; in Worcestershire, one, near Evesham; in Cornwall, two, in the Scilly Islands, one an adult male, the other an immature bird, in September, 1849; others since also; one in Derbyshire, May 19th., 1839; and one near Guildford, in Surrey; also in Lancashire, Cumberland, and Northumberland. In Ireland and Scotland none have been met with, unless indeed the account of one recorded to have occurred in Forfarshire, is correct.
The Woodchat is by no means of a shy nature, but builds in the immediate vicinage of houses and public roads. It exhibits an antipathy against other birds, even those which it cannot prey on, such as magpies and pigeons, chasing and driving them from its haunts.
The most extraordinary fact connected with this bird, as with others of its species, is its mode of dealing with its food—already described:
one has been seen fixing a yellow-hammer on a thorn. It feeds occasionally on such small birds, but also on worms, caterpillars, and insects:
it takes its prey on the ground, as well as in the air. I have in a previous article given my opinion as to its having been fancied that the Shrikes' motive in fixing their prey in the curious way they do, was to act decoy. 'Credat, non ego.'
The note is not much more than a chirp.
The nest is said to be placed in the angle of the branches of a tree —a preference being given to the oak. It is composed of sticks, wool, and moss, and lined with wool and fine grass.
The eggs are described by Mr. Hoy as being four or five in number and varying much in marking as well as in size. In some the ground colour is pale blue; in others dull white, with a band of rust-coloured spots round the lower end; in others the whole surface is more or less spotted with a lighter colour. Mr. Hewitson describes one from the fine collection of the Messrs. Tuke, of York, in which the spots, which are large and deep in colour, of a brown or neutral tint, are scattered equally over the whole surface. Others again are white tinged with green or pale olive, blotted with different darker shades, olive and lilac, the markings in some more diffused, and again as spots, forming a belt or band. Both birds sit on the eggs in turns.
Male; length, seven inches and a half; bill, black, (Meyer says bluish horn-colour at the tip, and dull yellowish red at the base,) notched near the tip, and depressed at the point: the feathers around its base are whitish. Iris, dark brown, (Meyer says pale chesnut,) the eye is surrounded by black, ending in a small patch; on the cheek is a narrow streak of white. Forehead, brownish black; head, bright olive brown; crown and nape, rich chesnut red; with a large patch of white above the wing coverts; chin, throat, and breast, white, or yellowish white; back, dusky black above, ending below in grey. Greater and lesser wing coverts, brownish black, the former faintly edged with white; primaries, dusky black, white at the base, forming a spot when the wing is closed: the first feather is less than half as long as the second; the third, fourth, and fifth longer than the second; or according to Selby, the second longer than the fifth, but this may be another instance of the uncertainty of the relative length of the quill feathers in some cases, so as that no absolute rule should be laid down; the third the longest in the wing; secondaries, dusky black, white at the ends. The tail, which is graduated, has the middle feathers brownish black, with indistinct bars, the outer one on each side white, excepting one or more dark bars on the inner web; the next, white on the inner half, black on the end half, white at the tip; the next, with a white tip only. Upper tail coverts, white, sometimes tinged with yellowish; under tail coverts, the same. Legs and toes, black; claws, black, (Meyer says slate-coloured,) sharp, grooved, and curved.
Female; length, eight inches; bill, dark brown; head, rufous; but more dull than in the male; neck, rufous; nape, dull rufous; a large patch of white above the wing coverts, but not so clear as in the male. Chin and throat, dull white; breast, dull white, tinged with red, particularly on the sides, where the feathers are tipped with brown, forming bars more or less in some individuals; back, rufous brown, fading into grey below. The wings expand to the width of one foot one inch; greater and lesser wing coverts, edged with rufous; primaries, dark brown, without any transverse lines; secondaries, dark brown; tertiaries, dark brown, edged with yellowish white; tail, brown; legs and toes, dark brown.
The young bird is distinguished by transverse brown lines on the back, and grey ones on the breast.
This species appears to vary much.

"The birds, great Nature's happy Commoners
That haunt in woods and meads, and flowery gardens."
ROWE.