GREAT CINEREOUS SHRIKE. 495 



The tail is black, all the feathers tipped with white, that 

 colour enlarging gradually outwards, so that the lateral feather 

 is entirely white, excepting part of the shaft, and the next, or 

 second from the side, has only a central streak of black ; the 

 bases of all the feathers are also white in the same proportion, 

 although the band thus formed on them is narrow, and con- 

 cealed by the coverts. The lower parts are white, but there 

 are generally faint indications of transverse grey lines on the 

 neck and breast ; the lower wing-coverts also are white, but 

 the primary coverts are more or less tinged with grey. The 

 lower surface of the quills is white at the base, and grey 

 towards the end ; that of the tail is brownish-black and grey- 

 ish-white, these colours being as abruptly defined as on the 

 upper surface. 



Length to end of tail lOg inches; extent of wings 14f ; bill 

 along the ridge j%, along the edge of lower mandible 1 j-^g ; wing 

 from flexure 4-^^ ; tail 5j ; tarsus ly ^ ; first toe j%, its claw 

 y*g ; second toe ^^1, its claw j% ; third toe /|, its claw j^^; 

 fourth toe /j, its claw |g. 



The above description is taken from a recently killed adult 

 male, presented to me by Mr Hepburn. 



Female. — The Female is similar to the male, but with the 

 following differences. The head and hind-neck are of a darker 

 grey, or slightly tinged with brown ; the band on the side of 

 the head is blackish-brown ; the black of the wings is more 

 browned ; and the lower parts are marked with fiiint trans- 

 verse semicircular grey or brownish-grey lines, of which there 

 are two on each feather of the fore-neck, breast, and sides. 



Length to end of tail 10 inches ; extent of wings 14 ; wing 

 from flexure 4^^^ ; tail 5. 



Variations. — In adult birds some differences may be observ- 

 ed in the tints and markings. Thus, the white band over the 

 eyes is sometimes faint, or not apparent, or very distinct ; the 

 lower parts may be pure white, or more or less undulated with 

 grey lines ; the relative length of the third, fourth, and fifth 

 quills may vary, the fourth being sometimes longest ; and the 



