4 
I find but little on record, except what is given above, respecting the habits of the present 
species ; and it appears to approach the Woodchat closely in its general habits, except that it is 
more of a desert-bird. It doubtless breeds in Turkestan and Thibet; but I have never had an 
opportunity of examining authentic eggs or nests. 
Mr. Schalow, in his excellent article on the genus Otomela, recognizes four species of these 
Isabelline Shrikes—Otomela arenaria, Otomela isabellina, Otomela phenicuroides, and Otomela 
speculigera; but, after a most careful examination of specimens, I cannot do otherwise than unite 
the first three: not having examined the fourth, I cannot offer a decided opinion as to whether 
it should be kept separate; but it seems to me probable that it ought also to be suppressed. I 
was at first inclined to separate Lanius phenicuroides from Lanius isabellinus as having a more 
rufous head, the underparts being whiter, while the tail, instead of being rounded or graduated, 
is nearly even, except as regards the outermost feathers on each side, which are at least 0°25 to 
0-3 inch shorter than the rest; but on comparing a series, I find that none of these characters 
are constant. It appears, judging from the specimens before me, that the richer-coloured form 
is the old male in full spring plumage, and the isabelline-coloured bird is the female or maie in 
winter dress. Looking over the series of adult males in summer dress I have before me, I find 
a great variation in tinge of colour, scarcely any two being quite alike. 
The specimen described is the most brightly coloured example; but another, also from 
Turkestan, is nearly as richly coloured, has the inner secondaries almost devoid of the rufous 
margins, and differs from the one from Chimkent in having the tail regularly graduated. One 
shot on the 16th April differs from the one described in having the crown and back greyish 
without any trace of rufous; but the tail has only the two outer feathers shorter than the others, 
not being graduated, and the underparts are very white. Another, shot on the 5th April, resembles 
this grey-backed bird in every respect, except that it has the crown slightly tinged with rufous, 
and is, as nearly as possible, intermediate between that specimen and the one described and 
figured. As the adult bird in winter dress has been so well figured by Henderson and Hume, I 
have not thought it necessary to figure it, and have merely given the adult male in full spring 
dress, showing the rufous on the head very distinctly. 
In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— 
E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 
a, ¢. Tschinaz, February 22nd, 1875 (Severtzoff), 6, 6. Chimkent, Turkestan, April 16th, 1866 (Severtzoff). 
c, 6 jun. Lower Oxus, Turkestan, September 20th (Severtzoff). d. Lahore, winter (Marshall). e, 2. 
Etawah, India, November 17th, 1866 (W. E. Brooks). 
E Mus. Lord Tweeddale. 
a,b, 3,c, 2. Turkestan (Severtzof’). d, d,e, 2. Chimkent, April 5th, 1866. jf, d. Karadolak, Turkestan, 
March Sth. g, d. Chimkent, April 20th, 1866 (Severtzoff’). h, $,i, 2. Punjab, December (Hume). 
k, 6? Karjalik, May 30th, 1874 (Biddulph). 
E Mus. Berol. 
a,b,c. Gumfudde. d. Arabia (Hemprich & Ehrenberg). 
