THE BIRDS OF BANGKOK. 89 
Family LANWD#—Shrikes. 
21 (475). Lanius nigriceps. Zhe Black-headed 
Shrike. 
Ld - — . 
Siamese, wnundnAr iG (Nok kéo-ta wai). 
Description. Length, up to 279 mm. (11 in.). Tail, 157 mm. 
(6.2 in.).t Upper portion of head from forehead to hind neck, 
black ; back, ramp and upper tail-coverts, chestnut; wing-coverts, 
black; quills, dark brown, tipped with rufous; a white patch at the 
base of the primaries; tail-feathers, black, most of them tipped with 
rufous. Chin, throat and breast, white, the last with a rufous tinge ; 
middle of abdomen, whitish; remainder of lower plumage, rather 
bright rufous. 
In the young the upper parts are grey, with a rufous 
tinge, barred with brown—the hars also appearing on the lower 
plumage. 
Iris, dark brown. Bill, black, except base of lower mandible, 
which is fleshy plumbeous. Legs, dark brown. 
Habits, &e. This is a resident species, and is not uncommon in 
the more open parts of the suburbs. It is somewhat solitary in its 
habits, and is usually to be seen perched on a fence, post, or bare 
branch of a bush or low tree, watching for insects, which it captures 
on the ground and carries back to its perch to devour. Its flight is 
rather weak, and is usually confined to a straight course, a few feet 
above the ground, from one perch to another. While generally rather 
silent, this bird occasionally utters a harsh single note, repeated three 
or four times. 
The Siamese name signifies “ Sharp-eyed Bird ”. 
Distribution. Also recorded from Central Siam (Gylden- 
stolpe ). 
~ 
t These are the measurements of one of my birds. The form found 
in Siam is distinguished from the corresponding Indian bird principally by its 
greater dimensions—the tail, for instance, measuring about 6.25 in. against 
5 in,—and is recorded by Gyldenstolpe, in conformity with the new trinoniial 
system, under the name of Laun/us négriceps longicau latus. 
