THE



325



Avicultural Magazine,


BEING THE JOURNAL OF

THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY.


Third Series .— VoL VII.—No. 12. —All rights reserved. OCTOBER, 1916.



NOTES ON THE

RED-WINGED BUSH SHRIKE.


Telephones australis minor.


By Dr. V. G. L. VAN Someren, M.B.O.U., etc.


Our Editor has sent me an appeal for notes on birds of this

country and I hasten to comply.*


In British East Africa we have many kinds of Shrikes of

divers colours, shapes and sizes, but in the majority of cases they

are of a quiet, docile disposition, and are therefore eminently suited

for aviaries. They are easy to keep and make an interesting

addition to one’s runs.


A glance at the accompanying plates will give one a good idea

as to the colouration of the species under notice. In newly-moulted

birds the mantle is an ashy brown with an ochraceous tinge; the

crown slightly more tinged with brown; the supercilliary stripe,

whitish outlined above and below with black, the lower line passing

through the eye; the underside from chin to under-tail coverts

whitish, tinged with ashy-grey on the breast and ashy grey-brown

on the flanks.


The tail feathers are black, with white tips, except for the

central pair which are dark grey cross-banded with black.


The wings are a red brown when closed, but when opened

reveal the inner webs which are a brownsh black. Although not

possessing any striking or brilliant colour as is the case in some of

the Chlorophoneus group, these birds by virtue of their movements

and general deportment are extremely attractive.



* We hope Dr. van Someren will give us many more.—ED.



