40 ON THE EirFOUS-TAILED SHRIKES. [1867. 



informs us that it " migrates (from Central India) to the neighbourhood of Barrackpore during 

 the cold weather." lie procured his first specimen there on the 2Sth September. lie adds 

 that it is not common in Maunbhoom, Central India. Mr. Hodgson (/. c.) merely says that it 

 is confined to the lower regions of Nipaul, but neither alludes to its nesting nor its migrations. 

 That some individuals remain in the plains throughout the year appears from the statement of 

 Mr. Blyth (l. c), that " a few are found near Calcutta at all seasons." Dr. Jerdon tells us that 

 " it disajipcars from the south of India in the hot season and rains," but omits to state where to. 

 Mr. Layard also is silent on the point. Does it, then, cross the vast ranges of the Himalaya in 

 its northern migration ■? Or does it not rather find on the southern slopes and in the valleys 

 of those mountains all the conditions suitable for nesting ■? * 



Dimetisioiis. 

 Long. Rostr.t Al. Catid. Tars. 



(S ex Bengal ... "43 387 381 -87 



e „ Moulmein .... 

 d „ Malabar . . . . 1 



$ „ -87 



6 „ Ceylon . . 4 



<3 „ • • 3-87 



Ibis, 1867, This species has been confounded with one or other of the three following birds, 



p.' 215. ' 



2. L.vNius LUCioxEXSis, Linn., S. N. ed. xii. (1766) i. p. 135. no. 10. Briss., Orn. 17G0, ii. 

 p. 109. no. 11, pi. xviii. fig. 1 (ex Lucon). Gm., S. N. ed. xiii. (1788) i. p. 299. no. 10. Lath., 

 Syn. i. p. 172. no. 21 ; Ind. Orn. i. p. 67. no. 5 ; G. H. ii. p. 55. no. 57. Swinh., Ibis, 1860, p. 59. 

 no. 70; Ibis, 1861, p. 43. no. 68, p. 255. no. 7, and p. 340. no. 47; Ibis, 1863, p. 272. no. 31. 

 Von Martens, J. f. O. 1866, p. 12. no. 46. 



Lanius phcenicurus, Gm., v. Pelzeln, lleise der Novara, Zool. Th. i. p. 84 (ex China, Amoy). 

 Otomela lucionensis (Linn.), Bp., Kev. de Zool. 1853, p. 437. no. 29. 



Brisson described this species from specimens of what seem to have been the female, brought 

 by Poivre from the island of Luzon ; and Linnteus adopted his designation. It has since, by 

 some authors, been regarded as a local variety of L. cristatus, Linn. Yet, on comparing Indian 

 with Philippine and Chinese examples, they are found to differ in many respects, more especially 

 in the almost entire absence of rufous, in the cinereous colouring of the head, back of neck, and 

 back, and in tlie much shorter tail, combined with an almost equal wing. It seems to wear the 

 grey livery at all seasons ; and no difference of sexual garb has been recorded. It migates to 

 North China during the spring, and returas south to the Philippines at the close of summer, 

 many in their passage resting in Formosa, and some, according to Mr. Swinhoe's latest obser- 



• It is extremely doubtful whether any Passerine bird which frequents the plains of India during the cooler months 

 crosses to the north of the snowy ranges of the Himalaya after quitting the plains to escape tho rainy season or the intense 

 heat of summer. I am not aware that one of the Indian Passerine species which have recently been identified with 

 Pallas's tj-pcs have ever been compared with authentic Siberian specimens. 



t The bill is measured from the nostril to the tip, and it« dimensions, with those of the other parts, given in English 

 inches and decimals. 



