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session of fabrics clearly not the work of any Shrike. Quite
recently I found a pair of L. lahtora with four eggs in a small nest
entirely woven of hemp, the bottom of which was thickly coated
with the droppings of former occupants. Again, on the 8th June,
a nest with four eggs was found on a roonj tree. This wonderful
nest, which I have kept, is entirely composed of what I take to be
old felt and feathers, the bottom of the cavity of which, when
found, was almost covered with the dung of young birds.

" Evidently this nost was not originally made by the Shrike,
but, as would appear, was taken possession of by it, after the
brood of some other species of birds had left it."

Mr. "W. Theobald makes the folio wing note of this bird's breeding
in the neighbourhood of Pind Dadan Khan and Katas in the Salt
Eange :—" Lays in the last week of March to the end of April.
Eggs five only, shape ovato-pyriform, size T06 inch by 0*8 inch;
colour pale greenish white, blotched and tinged with yellowish
grey and neutral markings ; vary much in intensity aud colour.
Nest of twigs, lined with cotton or wool, and usually placed in stiff
thorny bushes."

Lieut. II. E. Barnes, writing from Chaman in Southern Af-
ghanistan, remarks :—" The Grey-backed Shrike is extremely
common, breeding about the end of March, in much the same
situations as in India. I have collected many specimens, and
failed to detect any difference between the Indian bird and the one
found here. The average of twelve eggs is *97 by "75."

He adds subsequently:—" This is the commonest Shrike in the
country; it breeds in March and April, and the young are easily
reared in captivity."

Mr. W. Blewitt says that he " took four nests of this bird near
Hansee on the 28th-30th March; they contained, one 5, two 4,
and one 3 eggs ; all but the latter (which, curiously enough, were a
good deal incubated) quite fresh. The nests were placed in acacia
and caper bushes, at heights of from 6 to 14 feet from the ground;
they were from 6 to 7 inches in diameter exteriorly, rather loosely
constructed of thorny twigs, with egg-cavities from 2 to 2| inches
deep, lined with fine straw and leaves." Again he writes : "Took
numerous nests in the neighbourhood of Hansee during the month
of July; most of the eggs were much incubated, and four was the
largest number found in any one nest.

" The nests were all placed upon keekur trees at an average
height of some 10 feet from the ground; they were composed of
thorny twigs, some with and some without a lining of fine grass
and feathers, and averaged some 5 or 6 inches in diameter by 2 to
4 inches in depth."

Major 0. T. Bingham says that " this bird is excessively
common about Delhi, far more so than at Allahabad. At the
latter place I only found it breeding in March and April, but at
Delhi I have found nests in every month from March to August.
One evening in June I remember counting in my walk thirteen
nests within the radius- of a mile ; some of these contained fresh