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S53. (F 
THE BIRDS OF THE MADHUBANI SUBDIVISION, 627 
(28) Parinta InoRNATA.—The Indian Wren-Warbler. 
Oates, No. 466: Hume, No, 5438. 
Very common, Breeds from beginning of June to middle of September. 
It breeds in the indigo, sugarcane, surpat grass, and ekre, Numbers of nests 
and eggs get destroyed every year when the indigo iscut. Several times I 
have found nests and eggs in the plant brought to the vats. Five are the 
normal number of eggs. I once took six. I have only one pinkish-coloured 
egg ; they are very rare, I have many of both the other types mentioned in 
“Nests and Eggs.” 
Family Lantz. 
Subfamily Laniine, 
(29) Lantus nigRiceps,—The Black-headed Shrike, 
Oates, No. 475; Hume, No, 259. 
Very searce here. I have only secured a single specimen and seen several 
others. The earliest arrival was noticed on the 22nd October, My single 
specimen was shot on the 15th May. 
(30) LL. repHRoNotuUS.—The Grey-backed Shrike, 
Oates, No. 477 ; Hume, No, 258, 
T have found this species almost as rare as the last one, but Mr. Scroope, 
who has had better opportunities of moving about the district, says it is 
not uncommon during the cold weather, especially near sugarcane. Earliest 
arrival noticed on the 5th October, and latest seen on the 4th May, 
(3!) L, crisrarus.—The Brown Shrike. 
Oates, No, 481 ; Hume, No, 261. 
Abundant during the cold weather. The earliest arrival was noted on the 
27th August, and the latest on the same date as the last species, This is one 
of the earliest of our cold weather visitants. 
(32) TEPHRODORNIS PONDICERIANUS.— The Common Wood Shrike, 
Oates, No, 488; Hume, No, 265. 
We have never come acress this species in the subdivision, but near 
Darbhanga and Somastipur it is not very rare. It cannot, however, be said 
to be common anywhere. I saw a pair building in March, but the nest was 
deserted, and another pair shot on the 17th May were evidently breed- 
ing, 
(83) PERICROCoTUs sPEcIOsUS.--The Indian Scarlet Minivet, 
Oates, No, 490 ; Hume, No. 271. 
On the 31st January a male Minivet, of what I took to be this species, 
was seen by me near Narhar. It was one of the biack backed species, with 
red and black tail, and I do not know what other species it could have been, 
Tam well acquainted with this species, having often shot it in Cachar, Un- 
fortunately I was unable to secure the species, and have never come across 
another. 
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