TBE BIRDS OF BANGKOK. 89 



Family L.4^Y//Z).E— Shrikes. 



-^21 (475). Lanins nigriceps. The Blnch-headed 



Shrike. 



Siamese, "Wn ariQ fm 1q (Nok keo-ta wai). 



Description. Length, up to 279 mm. ( 11 in.). Tail, 157 mm. 

 (6.2 in.).t Upper portion of head from forehead to hind neck, 

 black ; back, rump and upper taii-coverts, chestnut ; wing-coverts, 

 black ; quills, dark brown, tipped with rufous ; a white patch at the 

 base of the primaries ; tail-feathers, black, most of them tipped with 

 rufous. Chin, throat and breast, white, the last with a rufous tinge ; 

 middle of abdomen, whitish ; remainder of lower phiniage, rather 

 bright rufous. 



In the young the upper parts are gre}', with a rufous 

 tinge, barred with brown — tlie bar^^ also appearing on the lower 

 phimaf^'e. 



Iris, dark brown. Bid, black, except base of lower mandible, 

 which is fleshy plumbeous. Legs, dark brown. 



Habits, &e. This is a resident species, and is not uncommon in 

 the more open parts of the suburbs. It is somewhat solitary in its 

 habits, and is usually to be seen perched on a fence, post, or bare 

 branch of a bush or low tree, watching for insects, which it captures 

 on the ground and carries back to its perch to devour. Its fligli^ is 

 rather weak, and is usually confined to a straight course, a few feefe 

 above the ground, from one perch to another. While generall}^ rather 

 silent, this bird occasionally utters a harsh single note, repeated three 

 or four times. 



The Siamese name signifies " Sharp-eyed Bird ". 



Listrilmtion. Also recorded from Central Siam ( Gyiden- 

 stolpe ). 



f These are the measMreaieiits of one of my Mrds. T!ie form found 

 in Siam is distiiiLijnishfd from the conespondiiic^ Iiidiun bird principally l)y its 

 greater dimensions — the tail, for inst.iiiee, measurint;- about tl.25 in. atr.-iinst 

 T) in.— and is recorded l)y (iyldenstolpe, in coni'orniiiy with the nen trinoniiiil 

 system, under tlie name of /yinin.-- ni(jiicpp>' hmgiium lata*. 



