50 JUNGLE FOLK 



attitude watches for its quarry. It has a grey head, 

 with a conspicuous broad black band — the mark 

 of the butcher-bird community — running through the 

 eye. Its back is reddish brown. It has a white shirt- 

 front, which makes it easy to see ; moreover, it always 

 sits on an exposed perch. To mistake a shrike is 

 impossible. There is no other fowl like unto it. 



The bay-backed species (L. vittatus) is a somewhat 

 smaller bird, but is very Hke erythronotus in appearance. 

 It may, however, be distinguished at a glance when on 

 the wing by the white in the wings and tail. 



The third common species — the Indian grey shrike 

 (L. lahtora) — has the whole of the back grey, and thus is 

 recognisable without difficulty. 



The nest of the butcher-bird is an untidy, cup- 

 shaped structure, from which pieces of rag frequently 

 hang down. As often as not it is built in a thorny 

 tree, and, by preference, pressed up close against the 

 trunk. Baby shrikes make their debut into the world 

 during the hot weather. 



