Birds of Lucknow. 537 
In this it breeds abundantly during the rains, making a lovely 
little egg-shaped nest, with a hole in the side near the 
top. The structure is composed of thin strips of the grass, 
and is unlined. The eggs, four or five in number, are of two 
types : {a) green, with black, brown, and purple blotches and 
streaks ; {h) pinky white, with similar marks. The latter- 
are very uncommon. 
Average of 62 Lucknow eggs (green) .... '60" x "45" 
Measurement of largest e^^ •62" x "45" 
„ smallest e^^ "SS" x "44" 
Average of 8 Lucknow eggs (white) .... '57" X '41" 
Measurement of largest e^^ '6'd" X "42" 
„ smallest q^o^ -56" x -42" 
It may be noted that all small birds and Warblers are 
here called " Phutki " indiscriminately. 
No. 469. Lanius lahtora. Indian Grey Shrike. 
Safed lahtora [H.]. Big-caste Butcher-bird [Anglo- 
Indian boys] . 
The Grey Shrike, though not numerous, is widely dis- 
tributed, and is particularly partial tobabool-topes. It feeds 
on crickets, locusts, lizards, and the like. It may 
occasionally seize a sickly or young bird, but I have never 
actually seen it do so. It breeds from the beginning of 
March to the beginning of July. I have found a considerable 
number of the nests, always massive cups of thorns, rags^ 
tow, grass, and feathers, neat and warm internally, but very 
untidy externally, and often visible for some distance away. 
Nineteen out of twenty are in babool trees, but once I shot 
a bird off a nest with four eggs in a sheshum tree about 
six feet from the ground. 
When there are eggs only, the bird is very shy, and it is 
often difficult to get a good view of it as it flies away. 
For the above-mentioned specimen I had to wait nearly an 
hour before I could get a chance of a shot. When there 
are young it is quite another matter, and the parents are in 
general very bold. On one occasion, as I was examining 
her brood, tiie hen ran up and down the branches close to 
me just like a squirrel. The greatest number of eggs which I 
