88 BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 



less common further north, where it occurs only as a visitant : it 

 has not as yet been recorded from Sind. It breeds during March, 

 April, and May in holes in trees, in banks and in walls, making little 

 or no nest; the eggs, from five to seven in number, are rather 

 narrow ovals pointed at one end, measuring 0-^7 inches in length 

 by - 66 in breadth ; they are pale greyish blue when fresh, but 

 become darker and dingier as incubation proceeds. The beaks of 

 the nestlings when first hatched are short, and it is interesting and 

 amusing to watch the rapid growth. 



A specimen shot by me at Saugor has a bill 3*46 inches long 

 at the gape, or about an inch longer than usual. 



Poona, March. H. E. Barnes. 



Sholapur, April and May. J. Davidson, C. S. 



256.— THE INDIAN GREY SHRIKE. 



Lanius lahtora, St/hes. 



The Grey Shrike is a common permanent resident throughout the 

 greater portion of Western India ; it is less common in the south- 

 west, and appears to be altogether absent from Ratnagiri. It breeds 

 from February to July, making a deep cup-shaped nest in a fork in 

 a small tree or bush, generally a thorny one. The materials com- 

 posing it are various, almost anything and everything being made 

 use of. The eggs, usually four in number, occasionally five or six, are 

 broadish ovals, pointed at one end, measuring 1'03 inches in length 

 by 0'79 in breadth ; the ground colour is a very pale greenish -white 

 (sometimes pale stone), spotted and blotched with different shades 

 of brown and purple ; the markings are often most numerous at the 

 larger end, forming an irregular gap or zone. 



Sholapur, ~] 



Nasik, *>Feb. to March, and June and July. J. Davidson, C.S. 



Khandesh, J 



Veesa, Neemuch, fyc. s Feb. to July. H. E. Barnes. 



Hyderabad* Sindh, March to May. „ 



Baroda, April to July. H. Littledale, Esa. 



257.— THE RUFOUS-BACKED SHRIKE. 



Lanius erythronotus, Vig. 



The Rufous-backed Shrike is a common permanent resident 

 throughout the greater portion of the district, breeding from March 



