GEEAT SHHIKE. 181 



of white, which runs into the grey of the nape, widening 

 into an oval patch over the ear; iris, dark brown; bristles 

 cover the nostrils; forehead, dull white; head, crown, neck, 

 and nape, light ash grey; chin, throat, and breast, white; 

 back, light ash grey. 



The wings, short they expand to the width of one foot 

 two or three inches; greater and lesser wing coverts, as the 

 back; primaries, black white at the base, shewing, when the 

 wing is closed, either one or two white spots, according as 

 the upper one is or is not hid by the superincumbent feathers ; 

 the first is only half as long as the second, which is nearly 

 as long as the sixth; the third, fourth, and fifth, nearly equal, 

 and longer than the second; the two former the longest in 

 the wing: underneath they are slate-coloured. Secondaries, 

 black, white at the base, and also tipped with white ; tertiaries, 

 black tipped with white; this white wears off towards the 

 end of summer; greater and lesser under wing coverts, white. 

 The tail wedge-shaped, of twelve feathers, has the four central 

 ones purple black, the next side feather obliquely tipped with 

 white, the next one fourth, the next one third, and the outer 

 one almost wholly white; underneath, the markings are the 

 same, but less clear; tail coverts, as the back, but paler; legs, 

 toes, and claws, black. 



The female resembles the male, but the colours are more 

 dull, the blue grey assuming a brownish tint; and the breast 

 is marked with numerous semicircular greyish lines. The 

 young males resemble the females. 



Temminck mentions a variety nearly pure white, the black 

 parts slightly tinged with grey; another is described entirely 

 white with a tinge of rich yellow. Very old birds shew 

 indications of bars on the tail. 



