RED-BACKED SHRIKE. 511 



a blackish line ; the tail-coverts similarly marked, the tail 

 reddish-brown, with reddish-white tips, anterior to which is a 

 dusky line. The anterior part of the forehead, and a band over 

 the eye, are brownish- white, mottled with dusky ; the ear- 

 coverts brown, the loral space whitish. The lower parts are 

 greyish-white, the breast and sides tinged with red ; the throat, 

 middle of the thorax, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts un- 

 marked, the other parts covered with dark brown undulated 

 semicircular lines, of which there are two on each feather. 



Progress toward Maturity. — After the first moult, the young 

 have the plumage marked as in the adult female ; the males 

 having the colours brighter. It has been suggested by Mr 

 Yarrell that the female ultimately resembles the male, as is the 

 case wuth our other species. This opinion has originated from 

 the remarks of Mr Hoy and Mr Blyth. The former, in Lou- 

 don''s Magazine, Vol. IV, p. 344, says, " I have a female bird 

 of the red-backed species, in the full garb of the adult male. I 

 had found the nest, and observed near the spot apparently two 

 male birds. Not being able to discover the female, I was in- 

 duced to shoot both ; and, on dissection, one proved the female, 

 with the eggs much enlarged, and one nearly ready for exclu- 

 sion." The latter, in the same useful repertory of facts relative 

 to British birds, Vol. VIII, p. 364, mentions his having fallen 

 in with a nearly similar individual. " It was a female, partly in 

 the male plumage ; but the ovaries were perfect, and contained 

 eggs ; and it was in company with a partner of the other sex 

 at the time it was shot." 



