WOODCHAT. 219 



female formerly in the Museum of the Zoological Society, 

 which bird belonged to the collection of Mr. Vigors ; both 

 these are api^arently in the plumage of the second or third 

 year, and may be thus described : Head, and nape of the 

 neck, red ; back and wings hair brown, without any trans- 

 verse lines ; scajmlars and edges of the tertials yellowish- 

 white ; rump inclining to grey ; tail-feathers clove-brown ; 

 all the under surface of the body dull white, tinged with 

 red, but without bars ; beak, legs, and toes, dark brown. 



Examples of the Woodchat from Egypt in winter-plumage 

 present very great variety, and have been the cause of many 

 errors. 



Several of the smaller Shrikes, of which this species is 

 one, are by some authorities removed from the genus Lauius, 

 and for their accommodation a genus Eiiiieuctonus has been 

 erected — a proceeding which seems scarcely necessary. 



