Indian Birds 



the nest and serve to locate its whereabouts. 

 The eggs have a stone-coloured background 

 with brownish blotches, which often form a 

 ring near the large end. (Illus. B. B., p. 70 ; 

 also F. I., p. 454.) 



35. Lanius vittatus : The Bay-backed Shrike. 



(F.473), 0-260), (-11.) 



Forehead and broad band through the eye 

 black. Head pale grey, back maroon, rump 

 white ; wings black with a white bar, which is 

 conspicuous during flight. Tail black and 

 white, median feathers black, outer ones white ; 

 lower parts white with a reddish-yellow tinge 

 on the breast. 



36. Lanius erythronotus : The Rufous-backed 

 Shrike. (F. 476), (J. 257), (+11.) . •• 



Although larger than the last species, this 

 bird is very like it in colouring. It may, how- 

 ever, be distinguished by the fact that it has 

 no white in the tail. The rump is the same 

 colour as the lower back and not white as 

 in 35. 



37. Lanius cristatus : The Brown Shrike. 

 (F. 481), (J. 261), (-11.) 



This species is distinguishable from the above 

 three shrikes by the fact that it lacks the white 

 wing bar which makes the others so conspicuous 

 112 



