( ^8 ) 



It has the atigry grating calls of its family, but is also an excellent 

 songster and mimic, blending into its own song those of other birds, 

 especially the skylark, and the twittering of the swallows, I even 

 heard one once imitating the partridge. 



It is plentiful in Upper Burma during the cold weather, and very 

 common in the Shan States during the breeding season. It makes 

 rather untidy nest compared with that of the last and lays eggs of 

 the regular butcher-bird type. 



(No. 475. L. nigriceps.) 



THE BROWN SHRIKE. 



One of our cold weathsr visitors, and very common during those 

 months, especially round Rangoon, where its noisy angry chatter 

 can be heard at all hours of the day, and more especially just before 

 dark. A reddish brown bird with white chin and throat, and light 

 coloured under parts, it retires to China for breeding purposes, 



Burmese name — Nya zayet. 



(No. 481. L. cristatus.) 



THE LARGE CUCKOO SHRIKE. 



A large grey and black bird which has loud piercing calls ; 

 generally keeping to the tops of high trees, and utters its call as it 

 flies from one tree to another. It is about twelv6 inches in length 

 and large for its size. Its upper plumage is grey with black points; 

 under parts greyish white. 



(No, 510. Graculus macii.) 



THE MINIVETS. 



These are the handsome little scarlet or orange birds generally 

 so noticeable in the hills and thick jungle. They go about in family 

 parties, and frequent the tops of high trees. The cock birds are a 

 rich scarlet and black, whilst the hens are orange and black, the 

 young having the same colouring as the hen birds ; this accounts for 

 one red bird being so often seen with a party of yellow ones — in all 

 probability a family with the two parent birds. 



THE BURMESE SCARLET miNIVET. 



The largest and in, most places the commonest of this family, 

 and is a very handsome bird, its whole head and neck, and some 

 of its wing and tail feathers black, the rest of the bird being a rich 

 scarlet; in the hen yellow takes the place of scarlet. Both birds are 

 about nine inches. 



Burmese name — Hnet Mintha. 



(No, 491. Pcricrocotus fraterculus,) 



