i66 BIRDS OF THE PLAINS 



The latter is the one that frequents our gardens. He 

 is not a large bird, being about the size of a bulbul. 

 The head and back of the neck are a pretty grey. The 

 back is chestnut-maroon, shading off to whitish near the 

 tail. There is a broad black streak running across the 

 forehead and through the eye, giving the bird a grim, 

 sinister aspect. The breast and lower parts are white ; 

 the wings and tail black, or rather appear black when 

 the bird is at rest. During flight the pinions display a 

 conspicuous white bar, and the white outer tail feathers 

 also come into view. The stout beak is black, and the 

 upper mandible projects downwards over the lower one. 

 This further adds to the ferocity of the bird's mien. It 

 is impossible to mistake a butcher bird ; look out for 

 its grey head, broad, black eyebrow, and white breast. 



The usual note of the shrike is a harsh cry, but during 

 the breeding season, that is to say, from March to July, 

 the cock is able to produce quite a musical song. 



At all times the butcher bird is a great mimic. I am 

 indebted to a correspondent for the following graphic 

 account of his histrionic performances : " Of late one of 

 these birds has daily perched himself on a neeui tree in my 

 compound and treated me to much music. His hours of 

 practice are early in the morning and at sunset. He 

 begins with his natural harsh notes, and then launches 

 out into mimicry. I gave him a patient hearing this 

 morning, and he treated me to the following : the lap- 

 wing, the sparrow-hawk, the partridge, the Brahminy 

 minah, the kite, the honeysucker, the hornbill (of these 

 parts), the scream of the green parrot, and the cry of 

 a chicken when being carried off by a kite." 



