LANIAN&. 143 
Genus, Lanius, Lin. (in part) 
Bill short, strongly hooked and toothed, much compressed ; 
rictal bristles numerous, rather weak ; wings moderate ; third and 
fourth quills . about equal and longest ; tail somewhat long, 
graduated ; tarsus short ; feet short, but strong. 
Lanius lahtora, Sykes. 
256.—Jerdon’s Birds of India, Vol. I, p. 400; Butler, Guzerat ; 
Stray Feathers, Vol. III, p. 462 ; Deccan, Stray Feathers, Vol. IX, 
p. 391 ; Murray’s Vertebrate Zoology of Sind, p. 120 ; Swinhoe and 
Barnes, Central India ; Ibis, 1885, p. 64. 
THE INDIAN GREY SHRIKE. 
Dudeya Latora and Sufaid Latora, Hin. 
Length, 9°5 to 10; wing, 4°25 ; tarsus, 1:12; bill at front, 0°62. 
Bill black ; irides hazel- brown ; ; legs brown-black. 
Pale plue-grey ; a very narrow frontal streak, continued 
through the eyes to the nape ; the wings and middle tail-feathers 
black ;a large band on the wings, formed by a broad band 
occupying two-thirds of all the primaries, and the outer webs and 
tips of the secondaries; the margins of the scapulars, the two 
external tail-feathers on each side, and the tips of the two follow- 
ing white ; also all the lower plumage. 
The Indian Grey Shrike is generally distributed throughout the 
province, but is less common perhaps in the more _ hilly districts. 
It is a permanent resident and breeds from February to July, 
but most nests are found in March, April and May. The nest 
is large, compact and cup-shaped, and is composed of twigs, coarse 
grass, pieces of rag, &c., lined with finer grass roots. It is § general- 
ly placed in the centre of a dense thorny bush or small tree. 
The eggs, generally four in number, occasionally five, are broad 
ovals, pointed at one end, of a delicate greenish-white color, spot- 
ted and blotched with yellowish, reddish, or purplish brown. The 
markings are more numerous at the larger end, sometimes form- 
ing a zone orcap. They measure about an inch in length by 
0°79 in breadth. 
Lanius erythronotus, 77g. 
257. Be et A Birds of India, Vol. I, p.402; Butler, Guzerat ; 
Stray Feathers, Vol. III, p. 463 ; Deccan, Stray Feathers, Vol. IX, 
_p. 392 ;Murray’s Vertebrate Zoology of Sind, p. 121; ‘Swinhoe 
and Barnes, Central India ; Ibis 1885, p. 64. 
THE RUFOUS-BACKED SHRIKE. 
Mattiya Latora, Hin. 
Length, 10 ; wing, 3°5 to 3°75 ; tail, 4°5 to 5; tarsus, 1:12. 
- Bill black ; irides dark brown ; legs black. 
Head above, and nape, and upper part of back, pure ashy ; narrow 
frental streak, continued through the eyes to the end of the ear- 
coverts, black ; scapulars, lower back, rump, and upper tail-coverts. 
