404 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



to the woods in summer. This bird has a harsh voice, very like that 

 of the Kestrel, and is perpetually vociferating from its perch. It is 

 bold and daring in its manners, and is easily caught by any insect- 

 bait. I found it common at Darjeeling in Avinter, and it appears to 

 be much dreaded by all the small birds, who give their note of 

 alarm, and hide themselves, as soon as one of these Shrikes comes 

 in view. I have killed it also near the banks of the Ganges, 

 beyond Colgong. 



259. Lanius nigriceps, Franklin. 



Collurio apud Franklin, P. Z. S., 1831 — Blytii, Cat. 872 — 

 HoRSF., Cat. 216 — Jerdon, Cat. 51. — Jerdon, Ilk Ind. Orn., pi. 

 17 — L. tricolor, Hodgson — L. antiguanus, Gmel. — Sakrik-pho, 

 Lepch. 



The Black-headed Shrike. 



Descr. — Head above, nape, wings and tail, black ; upper part of 

 back ashy ; lower back, scapulars, rump, and upper tail-coverts, 

 rufous ; beneath, the throat, breast, and middle of abdomen, white ; 

 sides of abdomen, vent, and lower lail-coverts, rufous. 



Bill black ; legs brown-black ; irides deep brown. 



Length 10 inches ; wing 3| ; tail 5 ; bill at front |- ; tarsus ly'^y. 



This Black-headed Shrike is found from Nepal to Bootan, in the 

 Himalayas, and from the foot of the. hills through Purneah and 

 Dina2:epore, &c., to Calcutta and the Sunderbuns, extending east- 

 wards into Assam, Arakan, and even to China and the Philippines. 

 I have seen it in Goomsoor, but not further south ; and from this 

 it ranges inland into the northern part of Central India. I have 

 also observed it along the banks of the Ganges, in Rajmahal, Colgong, 

 and Dinagepore, and at Darjeeling, up to 3,000 ft. of elevation. 

 It frequents alike open spaces in forests, and dense grass-jungle 

 mixed with bushes. Like the others of its kind, it descends to the 

 ground to pick up grasshoppers and various other insects. It was 

 probably the nest of this, or of some other Shiike, that was brought 

 to Tickell as the nest of the King-crow (Dicrurus viacrocercus) . 

 This is described as being large, hemispherical, placed near the top 

 of a thick bvish ; and the eggs dull white, with scattered brown spots. 



