THE BIRDS OF THE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS. 393 



cocking and uncocking of an old musket lock. It is found in any sort of 

 cover, but is particularly partial to a kind of herbage which grows to a 

 height of two or three feet in and around ponds of standing water. In this 

 thick cover it works its way about like a reed warbler, hopping from stem to 

 stem low down near the water, its presence being only apparent from the 

 jerking movement of the herbage and its incessant clicking note. On the 

 wing between one patch of cover and another when disturbed, owing to a 

 certain similarity in size and colour, it is not unlike one of the small 

 Shrikes, Lanius lucionensis or L. cristaius. 



410, Phylloscopus fuscatus, Blyth, Gates, I, p. 405; " Str. Feath.," 

 II, p. 236. 



A winter visitant to the Andamans 5 scarce, 



424. AcANTHOPKEUSTE MAGNiROSTRie, Blyth, Oates, I, p. 415 ; " Str. 

 Feath.," II, p, 236, 



Mr. Hume procured a single specimen at Mount Harriet in the Andamans, 



42C, AcANTHOPNEUSTE LUGDBRis, Blyth. Oates, I, p. 417; " Str. Feath.," 

 II, p, 236. 



Not uncommon in the Andamans in winter, but very far from being 

 numerous. 



451. HoRORNis PALLIDIPES, Blanf. Oates, I, p. 437. 



I procured a single specimen of this tiny Bush Warbler on June 26th 

 in dense undergrowth in jungle on the very summit of Mount Harriet. 

 Unfortunately I had no choice but to shoot it at very short range with a 

 12 bore and No. 8 shot, the result being that it was terribly knocked about 

 a portion of the breast being shot away altogether. However the head 

 wings, tail, and legs are perfect and the back view of the specimen is all 

 right. Its action and a low rattling note reminded me rather of Rhopocicha 

 Length, 4^%", wing l\i", tail 1^", tarsus |", bill at gape ~i|". Bill brown, basal 

 half of lower mandible and gape yellow. Legs and claws pallid whitish- 

 fleshy. 



481. Lanius cristatds, Linn. Oates, I, p. 468; " Str, Feath,," II, p. i^g 

 Occurs in the Andamans in most months of the year, its numbers being 



augmented by an influx of young birds in the summer. At no time is it 

 nearly as numerous as the next species, which is the Shrike of the Andamans 

 and seldom out of sight in the cold weather, 



482. Lanius lucionensip, Linn. Oates, I, p. 469; "Str. Feath.." II 

 p. 199, 



The Philippine Shrike is extremely common in the Andamans in the cold 

 season. Mr. Oates says it appears to be a permanent resident, as the Hume 

 collection contains specimens killed in these islands in almost every month 

 of the year. The bulk of the birds certainly are not residents ; personally 

 I never saw it at all until September, after which one might have shot any 

 number. I do not think that the stragglers left in the hot weather breed 



