324 LANIID^. 



going species ; it is likewise less deep internally. It was composed 

 of the dry stalks of ' forget-me-not,' compactly held together by 

 the intermixture of a quantity of moss interwoven with fine flax 

 and seed-down, and lined with fine grass-stalks. Internal diameter 

 3g inches; external 6 inches ; depth 1| inch, forming a flattish 

 cup, of which the sides are about 1| inch thick. The depth', 

 therefore, is less by 1 inch than in that of the last-mentioned 

 nest." 



Mr. H. E. P. Carter tells me that " at Coonoor, on the Nilghiris, 

 this species breeds in April and May, placing its nest in large 

 shrubs, orange-trees, and other low trees which are thick and leafy. 

 The nest is externally irregular in shape, and is composed of fibres 

 and roots mixed with cotton- wool and rags ; in one nest I found a 

 piece of lace, G or 8 inches long ; internally it is a deep cup, some 

 4 inches in diameter and 2 in depth. The eggs are sometimes 

 three in number, sometimes four." 



Mr. AVait says that " the breeding-season extends from March 

 to July in the Nilghiris : the nest, cup-shaped and neatly built, is 

 placed in low trees, shrubs, and bushes, generally thorny ones ; 

 the outside of the nest is chiefly composed of weeds (a white downy 

 species is invariably present), fibres, and hay, and it is liued with 

 grass and hair ; thei*e is often a good deal of earth built in, with 

 roots and fibres in the foundation of this nest ; four appears to be 

 the usual number of eggs laid." 



INIiss Cockburu, from Kotagherry, also on the Nilghiris, tells me 

 that " the Pale Rufous-backed Shrike builds in the months of 

 February and March and forms a large nest, the foundation of 

 which is occasionally laid with large pieces of rags, or (as I have 

 once or twice found) pieces of carpet. To these they add sticks, 

 moss, and fine grass as a lining, and lay four eggs, which are white, 

 but have a circle of ash-coloui'ed streaks and blotches at the thick 

 end, resembling those on Ply catchers' eggs. They are exceedingly 

 watchful of their nests while they contain eggs or young, and 

 never go out of sight of the bush which contains the precious 

 abode." 



Mr. Davison remarks that " this species builds in bushes or 

 trees at about 6 to 20 feet from the ground ; a thorny thick bush 

 is generally preferred, Bet-heris asiatica being a favourite. The 

 nest is a large deep cup-shaped structure, rather neatly made of 

 grass, mingled with odd pieces of rag, paper, &c., and lined with 

 fine grass. The eggs, four or five in number, are white, spotted 

 with blackish brown, chiefly at the thicker end, where the spots 

 generally form a zone. The usual breeding-season is May and the 

 early part of Juue, though sometimes nests are found in April and 

 even as late as the last week in June, by which time the south- 

 west monsoon has generally burst on the Nilghiris." 



Dr. Pairbank writes : — " This bird lives thi'ough the year on the 

 Palanis and breeds there. I found a nest with five eggs when 

 there in 1867, but have not the notes then made about it." 



Captain Horace Terry informs us that this Shrike is a most 



