as in the male ; no black about the head, but a light-coloured
streak over the eye ; the whole of the upper surface of the
head and body reddish brown; wings like those of the male,
but the rufous margins narrower ; upper surface of tail-feathers
brown, tinged with re d ; 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 the
adult females, but have the darker semilunar marks on the
back as well as on the breast.
Some particulars in reference to tbe plumage of this Shrike
deserve here to be noticed. Mr. Hoy* says, “ I have a female
bird of the Red-backed species, in the full garb of the adult
male. I had found -the nest, and observed 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 :-f* “ 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
* Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. iv. p. 344. t lb . vol. viii. p. 364.
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
not believed formerly, it is now very well known that many
birds build nests and produce young before they have attained
their own adult plumage.
Baron Cuvier has stated, that when the adult female bird
differs from the male in the colour of her plumage, the young
birds of both sexes, in their first feathers, resemble the female;
the young males afterwards putting forth the colours that
indicate their sex. When the adult male and female are of
the same colour, the young then have for a time a plumage
peculiar to themselves. The Pheasant may be quoted in
illustration of the first law, and the Partridge as an example
of the second. To these two, a third law may be
added: whenever adult birds assume a plumage during the
breeding season decidedly different in colour from that which
they bear in the winter, the young birds have a plumage intermediate
in the general tone of its colour compared with
the two periodical states of the parent birds, and bearing also
indications- of the colours to be afterwards attained at either
period.
There are various modes by which changes in the appearance
of the plumage of birds are produced.
By the feather itself becoming altered in colour.
By the bird’s obtaining a certain addition of new feathers
without shedding any of the old ones.
By an entire or partial moulting, at which old feathers are
thrown off and new ones produced in their places. And by
the wearing off the lengthened lighter coloured tips of the
barbs of the feathers on the body, by which the brighter
tints of the plumage underneath are exposed. These changes
will be noticed under the different species most affected by
them.