OF THE TRAVANCORE HILLS. 393 
234.—Arachnechthra asiatica, Lath. 
“This species occurs abundantly in the open jungle near the 
foot of the hills, it is very active and keeps up an incessant 
chirping throughout the hottest part of the day, when nearly 
all other birds, except the crimson-throated barbet, are silent.— 
FF. W. B.” 
235.—Dendrophila frontalis, Horsf. 
No specimen received. 
“This beautiful little Nuthatch is another common species 
on the hills, principally frequenting the margins of clearings 
in the forest, when small parties of five or six individuals may 
be observed creeping about the stems and boughs of dead trees 
in search of their insect food.—F. W. B.” 
261 bis.—Lanius lucionensis? Lin. (S. F. Vol. IT. 
p- 199.) 
« A single specimen obtained in a felled, but unburnt, clearing 
of forest early in February at an elevation of about 2,000 feet. 
—fF. W. B.” e 
A specimen of a Shrike nearly adult, belongs either to this 
species, or, as I suggested, in the case of a very similar speci- 
men from Ceylon (Vol. L., p. 434), to some not yet discri- 
minated species. I have a very large series of lucioniensis, from 
the Andamans, and also specimens from China, but this bird 
does not altogether agree with any. The wing, tail, bill, all 
are those of lucionensis, but the forehead, crown, and occiput 
are the same pale grey, brown as the back. There is a broad 
white or whitish supercilium running from the lores, over the 
black ear coverts, but there is no paling towards the front over 
the head which seems to be present more or less in all specimens 
of lucionensis. I need scarcely add that it is certainly not 
eristatus, as the whole head, nape, back, and scapulars, are 
a perfectly uniform dull pale earth brown, without the faintest 
tinge of rufous and paler a good deal than in any of the 
young luctonensis I have. 
264,—Tephrodornis sylvicola, Jerd. 
‘Not uncommon in the margins and glades of forest, ap- 
pearing to prefer the neighbourhood of cultivation, and grega- 
rious in parties of five or six individuals; wandering about 
a good deal from tree to tree.—F. W. B.” 
267.—Hemipus picatus, Sykes. 
“Not very abundant; frequents the tops of trees at the 
higher elevations.—F., W. B.” 
