THE WOODCHAT. 65 



surface more barred. In size it fully equals the last, 

 being from six to six and a half inches in length. 



In some specimens, and perhaps those which 

 have attained maturity, and are in full breeding 

 plumage, the dark parts of the plumage are nearly 

 black. 



In specimens which we possess from Sierra 

 Leone, and which do not appear to vary mate- 

 rially from those of Europe, we have the dark 

 parts very deeply coloured, the pale patches 

 tinged with yellowish, and the colour of the head 

 arid nape of a very deep brownish orange. In 

 all respects, however, they seem in complete 

 plumage, and not in the intermediate changes 

 described by Mr Swainson,* in which state the 

 same collection also possessed specimens. 



MERULIDjE. 



From these three birds just described being 

 the only British members of the Laniadas, we 

 have to pass by a long list of varied forms, 

 beautiful in their gradations, to reach the second 

 great family of the Dentirostres, where we snail 

 find a few examples of the typical group, and 

 one of a very curious and interesting genus, the 

 only example we possess of the sub-family 

 Myothcrince. This is the Cinclus aquaticus, the 

 Dipper, or Water Ousel of British ornithologists. 



* Birds of Western Africa, i. p. 

 15 



