318 



WOOD-CHAT SHRIKE. 



bar at the upper part of the wings: the rump is 

 grey, and the tail black, slightly tipped with white, 

 and the two or three outward feiithers white on 

 the outside: the under parts of the bird, from bill 

 *to vent, white, with a slight cast of ash-colour: 

 the irides are hazel; the bill and legs black. The 

 female, according to Levaillant, differs in being 

 rather smaller than the male, and in wanting the red 

 or ferruginous colour on the back of the head and 

 neck*. In its young state this bird dilfers con- 

 siderably in plumage, and has been mistaken by 

 Brisson and others for a variety of the Flusher; 

 but Monsr. Levaillant, having examined a great 

 many broods of these birds, and bred them from 

 their young state, has completely ascertained that 

 this supposed variety of the L. Collurio is no other 

 than the Wood-Chat in its first year's plumage, 

 which, from his figure, appears to be of a slightly 

 rufous grey above; the wings varied with black, 

 rufous, and v/hite, aaid the tail rufous brown: the 

 black eye-streak is wanting, the under parts are 

 dull white with a few brown undulations, and the 

 bill and legs reddish-brown. 



* I know not how this is to be reconciled to the description 

 given by Brisson, and which Levaillant himself allows to be very- 

 exact. According to Brisson the female is rufous above, with 

 transverse brown streaks^ and of a dull rufescent white beneath, 

 with semicircular brown streaks. 



