1920.] 



Studij of Ncstlinti Birds. 



873 



beliiiKi the eye, wliilc the back is dusky smoke-brown with 

 a very couspieuoiis (h)rs:il streak ot" pale sandy buff. Tlie 

 under parts are creamy white. At this stage the dark areas 

 on tlie sides of the back have a somewhat mottled appearance, 

 and this is seemingly due to the larger pre-peunse showing 

 through darker brown pre-[)lumul:e. As is usual in lla|)tores, 

 when the nestling commences to grow, plumules begin to 

 ap[)ear over most of the body. These, instead of being 

 snowy-white as in the ]']agles, Falcons, Sparrow-Hawks, etc., 



Text-liiiure 16. 



i: A? 





A. B. 



IJeil-ljackc'd Shrike [Ldiiius col/urio), 5 days old. A. Dorsal aspect. 

 Jj. Ventral aspect, to show distribution of plumules ( • ) and pre- 

 pennte ( « ). 



are of a smoky-brown colour on the breast and nnder surface 

 generally. The new growth of down is noticeably darker 

 than the previous generation of pre-plumulse carried on its 

 tips. Conversely, in the nai;c and centre of the back the 

 sprouting plumules are lighter, if anything, than the preceding 

 pre-plumuiic, the result of this being an accentuation of the 

 contrasting colours. The nestling Lamniergeyer (^Gijpaetns 

 barbatKs) is also remarkable in having a patterned gaib, but 



