Mr. R. B. Sharpe on Birds from Fao. 107 



21. Anthus spipoletta (L.) : Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. 

 X. p. 592. 



A specimen in winter plumage, without date. 



22. Hypocolius ampelinus, Bp. : Sharpe, Ibis, 1886, 

 p. 477. 



Mr. Gumming sends sixteen eggs of this curious bird, but 

 these afford very little help towards locating the genus 

 Hypocolius in the natural system. As described by Mr. 

 Gumming ('Ibis,' 1886, p. 479), the eggs are "glossy 

 leaden white, with leaden-coloured blotches and spots to- 

 wards the larger end, sometimes forming a ring round the 

 larger end, and at times spreading over the entire egg." 

 Gount Salvadori has suggested to me that the affinities of 

 Hypocolius might be found with the Cumpophagidce, especi- 

 ally with such forms as Chlamy docker a ; but so far as the 

 eggs go, they appear to indicate Hypocolius as an aberrant 

 'Shrike, and this will, I fancy, turn out to be its proper 

 position in the system. 



23. Lanius minor, Gm. : Sharpe, Ibis, 1886, p. 484. 

 Three immature birds. August 14th, 19th, and 24th. 



24. Lanius auriculatus, Miill. : Sliarpe, Ibis, 1886, 

 p. 485. 



An adult male, August 31st. ' 



25. Lanius nubicus, Licht. : Sharpe, Ibis, 1886, p. 485. 

 Two young birds and a male in moult, passing from the 



young plumage to that of the adult, September 10th. 



26. Lanius collyrio, L. : Sharpe, Ibis, 1886, p. 485. 

 An adult and a young male, August 30th. 



27. Aedon FAMiLiARis (Mcuetr.) : Oates, Faun. Brit. Ind., 

 Birds, i. p. 351. 



Sylvia familiaris, Seeb. Gat. B. Brit. Mus. v. p. 36. 

 Nos. 10, 11, 12. Adult birds, August 11th, 14th, and 

 20th. 



One of these specimens is very curiously marked, the 



