RED-BACKED SHRIKE. 165 
surface of tail-feathers brown, tinged with red; the outer 
edge of the web of each outside tail-feather dull white. 
Chin dull white ; under surface of the body and the sides 
greyish white, crossed with greyish brown semilunar lines ; 
abdomen and under tail-coverts, dull white; under surface 
of tail-feathers grey, tipped with dull white. The length 
of the female described rather exceeded that of the male. 
Young males are like adult females, but have the darker 
semilunar marks on the back as well as on the breast. 
Some particulars in reference to the plumage of this 
Shrike deserve here to be noticed. Mr. Hoy* says, ‘“‘T 
have a female bird of the Red-backed species, in the full 
garb of the adult male. I had found the nest, and ob- 
served near the spot apparently two male birds: not being 
able to discover the female, I was induced to shoot both ; 
and, on dissection, one proved the female, with the eggs 
much enlarged, and one nearly ready for exclusion, I 
mention this circumstance, as this change of plumage in 
some species has been attributed to barrenness.” Mr. 
Blyth has met with almost a similar example, which is 
noticed as follows: “ The first individual that came under 
my inspection this season was a very remarkable bird: it 
was a female, partly in the male plumage; but the ovaries 
were perfect, and contained eggs; and it was in company 
with a partner of the other sex at the time it was shot.” 
Knowing that the adult female of the Grey Shrike, and 
that of the Woodchat Shrike, next to be described, closely 
resemble their respective males, except that their plumage 
is less brilliant, may we not conclude that the really old 
female of the Red-backed Shrike also resembles the male, 
but does not acquire that state of plumage in any single 
year, nor until after having moulted several times? Though 
* Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. iv. p. 344. + Ib. vol. viii. p. 364. 
