MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 179 



and supply the information to take the trouble to put their observations into 

 proper shape for publication, but I would urge all those who may be deterred 

 by this or other reasons to let us have any " definite and exact information on 

 this subject, " however rough it may appear, for even if it is not in the form of 

 a note for publication by itself, it will, however meagre, so long as it is definite 

 and exact, help towards the accumulation of records from which most valuable 

 information can be deducted when all are tabulated and compared. 



E. COMBER, FZ.S. 

 Burbington, Somerset, 12th September 1904. 



No. XXVI.— ALBINISM IN A SHRIKE. 



A few days ago Mr. P. F. Campbell, Assistant Manager in the Holta Tea Com- 

 pany, Kangra Valley, told me he had seen a pure white Shrike on the plantation 

 which he had left a man to mark while he returned for his gun.. He then went 

 after it and shot it. The bird, which I skinned and preserved, is pure white, 

 with the exception of a faint irroration of grey on the outer webs of the 

 posterior primary wing feathers and of the two outer tail feathers on the right 

 side, also both webs of the secondary and tertiary wing feathers, the latter 

 being tipped with very faint rufous. The irides were dark brown and the bill 

 and legs flesh colour. The rictal bristles, of which there are 7 on one side and 

 6 on the other, are strongly developed and white. The following are measure- 

 ments taken from the skin: — Length 9*2", tail 4'5"; wing 3'5"; tarsus 1*1" ; 

 bill from gape '9". 



Owing to there being no markings by which to distinguish this specimen, I 

 have concluded that it is an albinism of Lanius tephronotus, a common bird here — 

 in fact the only Shrike which I have seen within a couple of miles radius. It 

 is evidently a young bird, as many of the feathers of the back and rump are 

 not completely developed. The preserved skin is in the possession of Mr. 

 Campbell, who, I have no doubt, would send it to the Society for examination 

 if requested to do so, 



G. C. DUDGEON, F.E.S. 



Palampur, Punjab, 20th September 1904. 



