325

common bird in the Palani hills, found everywhere and breeding
freely.

Mr. H. Parker, writing from Ceylon, says :—" A pair of these
Shrikes reared three clutches of young in my compound (two of
them out of one nest) from December to May, inclusive; but this
must be abnormal breeding."

Colonel Legge writes in his ; Birds of Ceylon ':—" This bird
breeds in the Jaffna district and on the north-west coast from
February until May. Mr. Holds worth found its nest in a thorn-
bush about 6 feet high, near the compound of his bungalow, in
the beginning of February .... Layard speaks of the young-
being fledged in June at Point Pedro, and says that it builds in
Euvphorbia-faees in that district.'7

The eggs of this species, sent me by Captain Hutton from the
Boon and by numerous correspondents from the Nilghiris, are un-
distingnishable from many types of L. erythronotus, and indeed the
birds are so closely allied that this was only to be expected. It is
unnecessary to describe these at length, as my description of the
eggs of L. erytlironotus applies equally to these.

In size the eggs, however, vary less and average longer than
those of this latter species. In length they range from 0*93 to
1 inch, and in breadth from O7 to 0-72 inch, but the average of
twenty was 0*95 by 0-7 inch.

477. Lanius tephronotus (Vigors). The Grey-booked SJirilce.

Lanius tephronotus (F^.), Jerd. B. Ind. i, p. 403.

Collyrio tephronotus, Vigors, Hume, Rough Draft N. fy J57. no. 258.

As far as I yet know, the Grey-backed Shrike breeds, within
our limits, only in the Himalayas, and chiefly in the interior, at
heights of from 5000 to 8000 feet above the sea-level. In the
interior of Sikhim, in the Sutlej Valley near Chini, in Lahoul, and
well up the valley of the Beas, they are pretty common during the
summer; they lay from May to July, and the young are about by
the end of July or the early part of August, I have never seen
a nest, although I have had eggs and birds sent me from both Sik-
him and the Sutlej Valley. tThere were only two eggs in each case,
but doubtless, like other Shrikes, they lay from four to six.

Mr. Blanford remarks that L. tephronotus was "common at La*e-
hung, in Sikhim, 8000 to 9000 feet, in the beginning of Septem-
ber, but three weeks later all had disappeared. Many of those
seen were in young plumage, with hair on the breast, 'back, and
scapulars."

Colonel 0. H. T. Marshall records from Murree :—" This species
much resembles L. erythronotus, but the eggs differ considerably,
being more creamy white, blotched and spotted (more particularly
at the larger end) with pale red and grey. They are the same size
as those of the preceding species. Lays in the beginning of July
at the same elevation as L. erytlironotus"

As to the size I cannot concur with the above.