86 THE FOOD OF BIRDS IN INDIA. 



Laniince. (Shrikes Proper). The food, which may be taken on 

 the wing, or procured upon the ground, consists of small mammals 

 and birds, insects, snakes, frogs, or even crabs & fruit, the creatures 

 not devoured at once being impaled on thorns or spiky leaves. 



PrionipincB. (Wood Shrikes). They frequent trees and bushes, 

 and eat molluscs and fruit, but live chiefly on insects captured 

 on the branches, or on the ground, if not by darting into the air 

 from a perch. E. B. C. N. H., 533-535. 



LaniidcB. The habit of keeping a larder is probably restricted 

 to the larger species, and these only impale their victim when there 

 is still something left on it left over, after they have eaten so much 

 that for the time being they cannot possibly stow away any more. 

 They feed on large grasshoppers, small lizards and birds and on field 

 mice, but the usual food appears to be small insects. The young 

 seem to be fed chiefly on large green caterpillars. Dewar B. P., 

 163-7. 



They live chiefly on insects, impaling them on thorns before 

 eating them. Bom. Gaz., Vol. XII, p. 34. 



These birds live almost entirely on insects ; the true shrikes 

 occasionally seizing a small bird or mammal. Some descend to 

 the ground to seize their prey, a few catch insects entirely on the 

 wing, and others again merely search branches and leaves for their 

 food. F. I., I, 455. Insects, small mammals and birds. Jerd. 

 B. I., I, 986. 



Lanius. Capture insects on the ground, returning to their 

 perch to devour them. Some species have the habit of impaling 

 their prey on a thorn, and then tearing them to pieces. F. I. I., 

 457. 



469. Lanius lahtora. Indian Grey Shrike. It has the usual 

 habits of the tribe, sitting on the top of some low tree, on the watch 

 for a mole cricket, a locust, or some young or sickly bird to come 

 near. Mr. Phillip states he has seen it capture small birds. Jerd. 

 B. I., I, 401. }-grown squirrel. B. N. H. S. U. 12. 572. 



473. Lanius vittatus. Bay-backeo^\Shrike. Young seem to be 

 fed chiefly on large green caterpillars. Dewar, B. P., 167, 



