AND NORTHERN GUZERAT. 463 



257.— Lanius erythronotus, Vigors. 



The Indian Rufous-backed Shrike is not uncommon. It 

 commences nidification at Mount Aboo about the third week in 

 May. I took several nests about Deesa in June and July. The 

 eggs of the Aboo birds are much larger than the eggs I have 

 from the plains, more pointed at the small end and the spots are 

 smaller and more confined to the large end ; but I fancy that this 

 difference is merely attributable to local variation. 



[Throughout the entire region. — A. 0. H.] 



260.— Lanius vittatus, Bum. 



The Bay-backed Shrike is not very common. It occurs 

 sparingly on the hills and in the plains. 



[Throughout the entire region. — A. 0. H.J 



260 ter. — Lanius collurio, Pennant. 



The European Eedbacked Shrike, a specimen of which 

 I forwarded to Mr. Hume for identification, is, I think, not very 

 uncommon in the neighbourhood of Deesa during the latter part 

 of the rains arriving about the 1st September. It appears, 

 however, hitherto to have escaped observation, as Mr. Hume 

 informs me that the bird I sent him is the first he has heard of 

 being shot in India. The female is very like the bird figured 

 in Morris's British Birds, Vol. I. 



[As yet we have no other record of this bird's occurrence in 

 the Indian empire, but it doubtless will prove to occur also in 

 Southern Sindh, Cutch and Kattiawar. There is no mistake as 

 to the species, as both Mr. Brooks and myself compared Capt. 

 Butler's specimen with European examples. 



The following are the dimensions, recorded in the flesh, and 

 a description of the female (?) specimen, shot at Deesa on the 

 20th September 1875 :— 



Length, 7*5 ; wing, 3*5 ; tail, 3*5 ; bill, at front, 056 ; from 

 gape, 0*81 ; tarsus, 096. 



The irides were dark ; legs and feet black ; bill black, paler 

 at base of lower mandible. 



A conspicuous black streak from the nostrils, widening so as 

 to include the whole of the lores, eyes and ear-coverts. The 

 forehead and the whole top and back of the head, between the 

 black stripes, pale grey, darkening on the occiput and nape. 

 Scapulars, and interscapulary region brownish chestnut ; lower 

 back duller and more rusty ; rump and upper tail-coverts 

 light grey, the feathers just perceptibly darker shafted. Wings 

 hair brown ; primaries and their coverts very narrowly ; and 

 secondaries and tertiaries and their coverts very broadly mar- 

 gined with dull pale and bright rusty chestnut respectively. 



