FOR NORTHERN INDIA 51 



The other common species are the bay- 

 backed (L. vittatus) and the rufous-backed 

 shrike (L. erythronotus). These are smaller 

 birds and have the back red. The former is 

 distinguishable from the latter by having in 

 the wings and tail much white, which is very- 

 conspicuous during flight. 



The nest of each species is a massive cup, 

 composed of twigs, thorns, grasses, feathers, 

 and, usually, some pieces of rag ; these last 

 often hang down in a most untidy manner. 

 The nest is, as a rule, placed in a babool or 

 other thorny tree, close up against the trunk. 



Three allies of the shrikes are likewise busy 

 with their nests at this season. These are the 

 wood-shrike, the minivet and the cuckoo-shrike. 

 The wood-shrike (Tepbrodornis pondicerianus) is 

 an ashy-brown bird of the size of a sparrow 

 with a broad white eyebrow. It frequently 

 emits a characteristic soft, melancholy, 

 whistling note, which Eha describes as " Be 

 thee cheery." How impracticable are all 

 efforts to " chain by syllables airy sounds " ! 

 The cup-like nest of this species is always 

 carefully concealed in a tree. 



Minivets are aerial exquisites. In descriptions 

 of them superlative follows upon superlative. 



