LAtflUS. 323

Khandeish, says:—" A few pairs breed about Dliulia in June and

Mr. C. J. W. Taylor records the following liote from Manzeera-
bad in Mysore :—u Plentiful all over the district. Breeding in
May ; eggs taken on the 7th."

1 have so fully described the eggs of L. lalitora, of which the
e°-crs of this present species are almost miniatures, that I need say
bat little in regard to these. On the whole, the markings in this
species are, I think, feebler and less numerous than in L. laUtom •
and though this would not strike one in the comparison of a few
eggs in each, it is apparent enough when several hundreds of each
are Laid side by side, four or five abreast, in broad parallel rows.
The ground-colour, too, in the egg of L. enjtlironotas has seldom,
if ever, as much green in it, and has commonly more of the pale
creamy or pinky stone-colour than in the case of L. lalitora.

In size the eggs of L. erythronotus appear to approach those of
the English Ked-backed Shrike, though they average perhaps some-
what smaller.

In length they vary from 0*85 to 1*05 inch, and in breadth from
0-65 to 0-77 inch, but the average of more than one hundred eggs
measured is 0*92 by 0*71 inch.

Lanius canicejps.

This closely allied species, the Pale Eufous-backed Shrike, breeds
only, so far as I yet know, in the Nilghiris, Pa-lams, &c.

It lays from March to July, the majority, L think, breeding in
June.

Its nest is very similar and is similarly placed to that of the
preceding, from which, if it differs at all, it only differs in being
somewhat smaller.

It lays from four to six eggs, slightly more elongated ovals than
those of L. en/throtwtus, taken as a body, but not, in my opinion,
separable from these when mixed with a large number.

Captain Hutton, however, does not concur in this : he remarks :—
"This species, which is very common in Afghanistan, occurs
also in the Doon and on' the hills up to about 0000 feet. At Jeri-
pauee I took a nest on the 2Lst June containing five eggs, of a
pale livid white colour, sprinkled with brown spots, chiefly collected
at the larger end, where, however, they cannot be said to form a
ring; interspersed with these are other dull sepia spots appearing
beneath the shell. Diameter 0*94 by 0-69 inch, or in some rather
more. Shape rather tapering ovate.

" The differences perceptible between this and the last are the
much smaller size of the spots and blotches, the latter, indeed,
scarcely existing, while in L. erythronotus they are large and
numerous ; there is great difference likewise in the shape of the
egg, those of the present species being less globular or more
tapering. The nest was found in a thick bush about 5 feet from
the ground, and was far more neatly made than that of the fore-

21*