VALIDITY OF SOME FORMS OF MIMICRY. 719 



37. The Southern Wren-Warbler. Prinia jerdom. 

 " It is purely insectivorous." 



Fam. L A N II D ^. Shrikes. 



Subfani. Laniin^, 



" These birds live entirely on insects, the Tree-Shrikes oc- 

 casionally seizing a small biixl or mammal. Some descend to the 

 ground to seize their prey, a few catch insects entirely on the 

 wing, and others, again, search branches and leaves for their 

 food." {Oates.) 



38. The Rufous-backed Shrike. Lanms erythronotus. 



" A local bird feeds on grasshoppers, which it entraps 



on the ground, and also preys on Mantidse and dragonllies." 



It almost certainly eats butterflies. I have seen it occasionally 

 in Colombo. 



39. The Brown Shrike. Lanius cristatus. A migrant. 

 Certainly eats butterflies. See experiments on birds in 



Colombo (p. 737). 



40. The Black-backed Pied Shrike. Ileinipus picatus. 



" They are rather flycatchers than shrikes in their habits .... 

 . . . continually darting out and seizing insects on the wing." 

 (^Oates.) 



41. The Common Wood-Shrike. Tejihrodornis pondicerianus. 

 " Moths and small butterflies form a considerable portion of 



its food." 



42. The Orange Minivet. Pericrocotusflammeiis. 



" Its diet consists of small butterflies and various winged insects. 

 In the woods of the Horton Plains I saw it catching insects 

 in the moss with which the trees are entirely covered in that 

 damp region." 



Mr. Ormiston tells me that he has known a small flock of these 

 birds completely clear ofi' some dozens of Papilio polytes larvse, 

 which he was hoping to rear on the fruit trees in his garden. 



43. The Black-headed Cuckoo-Shrike. Campophaga sykesi. 

 " Its favourite food is caterpillars and other soft insects." 



44. The Lai'ge Cuckoo-Shrike. Gi'aiicalus macii. 



" Its food consists of caterpillars, grasshoppers and various kinds 

 of coleopterous insects," Hodgson states its food to be " Mantidse 

 Scarabsei, berries, vetches and seeds," 



45. The Little Minivet. Pericrocotus peregrinus, 



'• It feeds upon various larvae (its favourite food) and small 

 insects." 



50* 



