Lanius lalitora and its Allies. 289 



In 1870 (P. Z. S. 1870, pp. 596-598) and in 1872 (in the 

 'Birds of Europe'), Dr. R, Bowdler Sliarpe and I united 

 under Lanius lahtora all the species which have been subse- 

 quently differentiated by Dr. Hans Gadow (Brit. Mus. Cat. 

 B. viii. pp. 2'17-252, 1883) under the names oi Lanius lahtora, 

 L. fallax, L. assimilis, L. hemiltucurus, L. dealbatus, and 

 L. eleyans, and I can only say that^ after a careful examina- 

 tion of a very large series and a study of what has since 

 been written on the subject, I have come to the conclusion 

 that we were much more justified in lumping all these to- 

 gether than we should have been had we accepted the nearly 

 endless subdivisions that are now so much in vogue. At the 

 same time there are several local forms or subspecies of this 

 bird which it may be advisable to recognize as such, in order 

 to indicate the distinctions, slight as they are ; besides which, 

 I think that the eastern and western foruis may well be kept 

 apart. Mr. Gates has pointed out (B. of Brit. Ind. i. p. 458) 

 a distinction which had escaped us, and which, though scarcely 

 constant, is of considerable value in distinguishing Lanius 

 lahtora of India from the western form. This is the colour 

 of the lesser wing-coverts, which in Lanius lahtora is either 

 black or black with slight grey edgings, whereas in the western 

 form the lesser wing-coverts are either entirely grey or grey 

 with a little black at the base of the feathers. Also, as a 

 rule, typical Lanius lahtora has the black frontal band much 

 broader than in the western form ; but this character is of 

 little value, as I have at present before me specimens 

 from India which have scarcely any trace of this black frontal 

 band, and others froDi North Africa in which this band is 

 very well developed. Mr. Gates separates Lanius lahtora 

 into three species (or subspecies), viz. Lanius lahtora, L. as- 

 similis, and L. falku. To this, on the whole, I agree ; but 

 it appears to me that L. assimilis should bear SAvainson's 

 name, L. elegans, as there is no doubt that Swainson's type 

 is conspecific Avith the form described by Gates asL. assimilis. 

 This I have ascertained by a careful comparison of it with a 

 specimen in my collection from Transeaspia. 



In Eui'opc north of the Mediterranean the only Shrike 



SEll, VI. VOL. IV. u 



