U4 BRITISH BIRDS. 



THE FEMALE RED-BACKED SHRIKE. 



THE above was drawn from a Shrike presented 

 by Mr. Wm. Proctor, of Durham. It was shot by 

 him on the loth of September, 1824. The length 

 is seven inches ; breadth eleven ; weight rather 

 exceeding an ounce. The bill is dark brown, 

 tinged with lead colour, distinctly, notched, and 

 beset with bristles at the base ; irides dark hazel ; 

 brow dull pale brown ; the head and upper parts 

 of the body reddish or rusty brown, each feather 

 fringed with a lighter colour, and barred in the 

 middle with black curved or waved lines; the 

 auriculars are deeper brown, and spotted or barred 

 with black; the lower part of the back and rump 

 are of a paler shade than the back; the tail coverts 

 are rusty red; the tail is nearly the same colour, 

 the two middle feathers plain, the two outer ones 

 edged with dull white; the rest have a black spot 

 near the ends, and are tipped with white; the 



