538 Mr. W. Jesse on the 



have ever found was five, but I fancy that four is the proper 

 number, and three hard-set eggs or young are frequent. 

 The foHowing are a few details taken from my diary : — 

 Mar. 4 nest and 4 fresh eg-gs ; babool. 



„ 26 ,, 3 nearly-fledged young : babool. 



April 14 ,, 5 (-3 set ; 2 rotten) e^^i : babool. 



May 9 ,, 1 fresh e^g : babool. 



)J i4 „ o ,, ,, 



„ 22 ., 4 ,, sheshum. 



June 13 „ 3 „ babool. 



July 11 „ - half-fledged young : babool. 



Average of 13 Luckuow eggs 1-01" x "76" 



Measurement of largest egg 1-00" x "80" 



,, smallest egg "97" x "74" 



No. 473. Lanius vittatus. Bay-backed Shrike. 



Small-caste Butcher-bird [Anglo-Indian boys] . 



Not very numerous, but a few are met Avith during the 

 season. At one time two or three pairs used to frequent 

 the " cork '' trees near the place now occupied by John's 

 Ice Factory, but of late years they have disappeared. I 

 have not taken many nests, and in most instances they have 

 been hard to find, as the bird is much more careful in 

 concealing her home than other Shrikes. It is placed in 

 a large fork close to the trunk for preference, and is very 

 neat, made of rags, tow, grass, &c. The eggs are from three 

 to five, of the usual Shrike-like character, and often very 

 handsome. 



The following are the details of my discoveries : — 



Mar. 21 nest ready for eggs : cork-tree. 



„ 27 nest and 1 fresh egg : babool. 



April 9 „ 3 „ „ 



May •')..,, „ 2 young : babool. 



June 5 „ 3 fresh eggs : babool. 



„ 9 „ 2 young and 2 addled eggs : babool. 



„ 30 „ 5 fresh eggs : babool. 



July 1 „ 2 V „ 



Average of 10 Lucknow eggs '79" x "CO" 



Measurement of largest egg "SI" x "64" 



„ smallest egg '72" x •''>8" 



