to ' The Birds of India J 115 



that in this bird the middle of the abdomen, right down to the 

 vent, is white, while in L. erythronotus the lower portion of the 

 abdomen, and the feathers above the vent, are bright lerruginous. 



259. Lanius nigriceps. 



Figured by Gray, Gen. Birds, pi. 71. 



It appears to be yet doubtful, from Lord Walden's observa- 

 tions (Ibis, 1868, p. 70), whether this bird be the same as 

 Sonnerat^s from the Philippines, and therefore whether the 

 synonym of antiguanus should be added or not. To the Philip- 

 pine bird belong the synonyms of L. nasutus, Scopoli, and L. 

 cephalomelas, Bonap. 



Another Shrike from China is L.fuscatus, Lesson [L. luguhris, 

 Temm. apud Hartlaub; L. melanthes, Swinhoe). 



260. Lanius hardwtckii. This bird will now stand as 

 Lanius vittatus, Valenc. 



The Rufous-tailed Shrikes have been the subject of an excellent 

 memoir by Viscount Walden (Ibis 1867, p. 211). The group 

 has been named Otomela by Bonaparte : all the species have 

 the tail rufous, and no white on the wings. 



261. Lanius cuisTATUS, L. 



This is the species common in most parts of India; but the 

 synonym of phcenicurus must be withdrawn from it; and the 

 habitat of the Andamans, Ceylon, and Java for L. lucionensis 

 is most likely erroneous. One measured when recently killed 

 7| inches in length, wing 3|, extent 10|, tail 3i. 



263. Lanius arenarius. 



In my Appendix (p. 875, of 3rd vol.) I gave this as a doubt- 

 ful species ; but on my first visit to the Upper Provinces I found 

 that it was by no means a doubtful, but a well-marked species. 

 I found it throughout the upper part of the N.W. Provinces 

 and the Punjab, to the exclusion of iy. cristatus. One I killed at 

 Roorkee measured 7\ inches in length, wing 3^, extent 11, 

 tail 3^; another had the tail 3i. The central tail-feathers 

 have a pale band near the tip ; and all the rectrices are broader 

 than in L. cristatus. It is only a cold-weather visitant to India • 



