Illustration of Indian Ornithology. 



Description, Head and hind neck black, middle of back grey ; lower back and 

 rump rufous, which sometimes extends over the greater portion of the back ; wings and 

 tail black, the secondaries and tail feathers (except the centre ones) edged and tipped 

 wih reddish white. Beneath white ; sides of body, and under tail coverts, rufous. Bill 

 and legs black. Irides deep brown. Length about 9v to 10 inches, wing .'J.^ Tail •'">, 



Tars 1,^. 



The other peninsular species of Lanius are as follows : 



1. L. lahtora Sykes, L. excubitor var C. Lath., Doodeea latora, Hind. This large 

 Shrike is an inhabitant of open low jungles throughout the country, and towards the more 

 northern parts of the peninsula is found frequenting bushes and low trees in the open 

 plains. It never approaches villages, and is a shy, wary bird and difficult of approach, 

 and perhaps is the least numerous of any of the species. 



2. L. Erythronotus, Vigors. Kufous backed Shrike. This, though occasionally 

 found in the more wooded parts of the country in the Carnatic is only at all common in the 

 neighbourhood of the jungles of the west coast, and is very abundant on the top of the 

 Neilgherries. 



o. L. Hardioickii Vigors. Bay backed Shrike of Latham. This enters gardens 

 and is the most generally spread of all the Indian Shrikes. 



4. L. cristatus L. after Edwards pi. 74., L. rutilus var. A., and L. superci/toms 

 var. A. of Latham; L mc/anolis Valenc ; perhaps also white cheeked S. of Latham, and 

 L phoenicurus of I'allas (apud Latham.) This species, only lately accurately defined, 

 escaped my notice when writing the Catalogue of Birds of Southern India, having over- 

 looked it as the young of L. Hardwickii. Tt is found chiefly about hedge rows, and de- 

 tached trees in the more cultivated parts oi' the country, and I am inclined to believe is 

 migratory in the South of India. 



The L. tephronoius of Vigors, grey backed Strike of Latham. /-. nipalc/isi! of 

 Hodgson, is not found in the South of India. 



