The ground-colour of the eggs, which are almost invariably two in number, varies from wood-brown to asparagus-green, the blotches and spots, which are very generally dispersed over their surface, varying from dull chestnut-brown to light yellowish brown; in some instances they are also sparingly dotted with deep umber-brown; their medium length is thirteen lines, and breadth ten lines.
Its note, which is seldom uttered, is a peculiar single purring or jarring sound, repeated several times in succession.
The adults have the forehead, sides of the face, ear-coverts and throat jet-black; crown of the head, all the upper surface and wing-coverts delicate grey; primaries black, their outer edges and tips margined with grey; secondaries grey, with their inner webs black; tail grey at the base, gradually passing into black near the extremity, and broadly tipped with white; chest blackish grey, into which the black of the throat gradually passes; lower part of the abdomen pale grey; under tail-coverts white; irides, bill and feet black.
The Plate represents an adult male and a young bird of the first year of the natural size.
GRAUCALUS MENTALIS: Vig. & Horsf.
J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith. Hullmandel & Walton Imp.
GRAUCALUS MENTALIS, Vig. and Horsf.
Varied Graucalus.
Graucalus mentalis, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 217.
Lanius robustus, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp., p. xviii.?—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. viii. p. 311?
Robust Shrike, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p. 74?—Ib. Gen. Hist., vol. ii. p. 67?