NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA. 89 



to August, or even earlier. The nest is very similar to that of the 

 Grey Shrike, but is smaller ; the eggs, five or six in number, are broad 

 ovals in shape, pinched iu at one end ; they average 0*92 inches in 

 length by 07 in breadth ; the ground colour is a very pale pinkish 

 stone, but is subject to much variation. They are spotted and 

 blotched with purplish and pale-brown. Mr. Davidson informs me 

 that this bird does not breed in the Sholapur district, though it is 

 a common breeder in Satara, Nassick, and Khandesh. 



Hyderabad, Sind, May to Jul//. II. E. Barnes. 



Neomuch, fyc, <!yc, Juno to Aug. ,, 



Baroda, May to July. U. Liitlcdale, Esq. 



260.— THE BAY-BACKED SHRIKE. 



Lanius vittatus, Val. 



The Bay-backed Shrike is a very common permanent resident 

 throughout the greater portion of the district, but like the last is 

 much less common in the south. They breed from May to August, 

 making a neat, compact, cup-shaped nest composed of grass stems, 

 roots, &c; it is usually placed in a fork in a small tree, but occasion- 

 ally at the junction of a large branch with the trunk. The eggs, 

 four in number, sometimes five or six, are broad ovals, pinched in 

 at one end, and average 0*83 inches in length by 0-65 in breadth. 



The ground colour is pale brownish-stone, or pale-creamy, feebly 

 speckled and spotted with brown and purple. The markings 

 occasionally form a ring round the larger end. 



Poona, May to Jidy. H. E. Barnes. 



Hyderabad, Sind, June to Aug. „ 



Neemueh, March to Jidy. „ 



Nassick and Khandesh, March to July. J. Davidson, C. S. 



Baroda, March to June, H. Littledale, Esq. 



265.— THE COMMON WOOD SHRIKE. 



Tephrodornis pondicerianus, Gmel. 

 The Common Wood Shrike is very abundant in all suitable 

 localities in the district ; it is a permanent resident, breeding from 

 the latter end of February to May, making a compact cup-shaped 

 nest, composed of grass roots and fibres bound together with spider 

 webs ; it is placed in a fork in a tree ; occasionally in a bush. The 

 eggs, three in number, rarely four, are broadish ovals in shape, 



