of the Common Shrike. 365 



the feather as in the male bird (an ordinary female has no 

 white upon the tail) ; there are a few traces of the female 

 transverse markings on the sides of the neck ; which increase 

 in number as we descend, till the lower part of the breast and 

 the belly are the same as in an ordinary female. There are 

 also, in this bird, some very faint indications upon the back 

 and scapularies (chiefly the latter) of the barred markings 

 which characterise the young of the year, at the time they 

 leave this country ; but, as I Tiave never found any sign of 

 these in any other specimen which was shot in spring, I will 

 not hence too hastily conclude, only from this singular indi- 

 vidual, that the adult livery is gradually acquired by a change 

 of colour in the feathers themselves. The bright colours of 

 the mature cock bird are too unlike those of the second- 

 plumage of the young (which I have described in p. 338.) to 

 render it at all likely that the change took place otherwise 

 than by a general moult: the fact may, however, be con- 

 clusively ascertained by keeping them in confinement through 

 the winter. 



I rather regret that I did not preserve the ovary of this 

 very remarkable individual ; but I exhibited it to several per- 

 sons. The eggs were small, and very little advanced ; but 

 they were much too distinct to be mistaken. I have pre- 

 served, however, the skin of the bird, and have it now in my 

 possession. 



It has been said of this species of shrike, that the female 

 bird is always larger than the male ; but this does not accord 

 with my observation : I have certainly noticed both sexes to 

 vary in size rather more than is the case with birds in general, 

 but I can say decidedly that there is no fixed difference 

 between them in this respect. 



In this part of Surrey, a few of the red-backed shrikes fre- 

 quent furze brakes and the margins of woods ; but the great 

 majority of them are found chiefly about tall and thick maple 

 or hawthorn hedges ; where they may be commonly seen, 

 perched like chats, upon the topmost twig; or, like fly- 

 catchers, upon the bare branch of some tree growing out of 

 the hedge, or sitting upon a post or paling, always in a con- 

 spicuous situation, where their vision can extend over a con- 

 siderable range, and whence they often dart after the larger 

 passing insects, or upon any small quadruped or bird which 

 lucklessly comes within the sphere of their downward leaping 

 flight ; or they slowly hover along the hedges, often remaining 

 a long time fixed over a particular spot ; moving their wings 

 rather quickly, but making no progress forward ; then, per- 

 haps, advancing two or three yards, and again remaining 



c c 3 



