30 THE BIRDS OF THE LUCKNOW CIVIL DIVISION: 
larvee, and, unlike the Woodpeckers, moves with equal facility 
either up or down trees. 
Though this is a very common bird about Lucknow, it has 
bafiled all my attempts to find its nest, though I am pretty sure 
that a pair had their nest in a tree in my owa garden. 
254.—Upupa epops, Zin. 
The Hoopoe, of Europe, is not common, and is only found 
here in the cold weather. Its larger size and the white band 
on its crest readily distinguish it from the next species. But 
the scarcity of the bird “here is, to my thinking, much more 
remarkable than its presence, considering its reputed abundance 
in other parts of India during the cold season. 
255.—Upupa ceylonensis, Reich. Native name— 
Hudhud. 
The Indian Hoopoe is a common and permanent resident. 
It commences to pair in December, if not earlier, and breeds 
in February and March. On the 5th of the latter month 
I obtained a nest and seven fresh eggs in an out-house in my 
own compound. The nest was in a hole in the wall just above 
the door, and was nothing more or less than a shapeless and 
gigantic bundle of tow and rags, probably once a squirrel’s 
nest. 
Average measurement of eggs... °88 by °65 inches. 
Measurement of largestege ... ‘91 ,, °68 ,, 
Measurement of smallest egg ... °83 ,, *60 ,, 
256.—Lanius lahtora, Sykes. Native name—Safaid 
Latora. 
The Indian Grey Shrike, though it may be found almost 
anywhere in open country, is numerically rare. It frequents 
dhak jungles, oftener babool and other low trees on open 
plains, and occasionally telegraph wires. Though it feeds 
mostly on crickets, locusts, &e., I have never, as apparently 
others have done, seen it even attempt to seize young or sickly 
birds. 
It breeds here from March to July, making a massive cup- 
shaped nest in babool trees, generally in solitary ones on open 
plains. A nest that I came across on the 24th June contained 
four young, semi-fledged birds. 
207.—Lanius erythronotus, Vig. Native name— 
Mattiya Latora. 
The Rufous-backed Shrike is decidedly commoner than the 
last species ; and, like it, is a permanent resident, frequenting 
