LANIUS CKISTATUS. 381 



to its furthest limit, Ceylon. In the solitudes of Thibet it appears to be a resident throughout the year ; for 

 Col. Prjevalski writes that it " was observed throughout our travels, with the exception of Koko-nor, Tsaidam, 

 and Northern Thibet. In those localities which we visited in winter, or early in spring, we found it most 

 numerous in the Hoang-ho valley. In Ala-shan they breed in the sacsaulnics ; and in Kan-su they 

 generally inhabit the low wooded plains. The first migrants were seen to arrive in the Hoang-ho valley on 

 the 28th of April. It breeds commonly in the woods of Ussuri country, especially in those localities 

 where there are many decayed or felled trees." Swinhoe merely mentions it being found at Amoy, and that 

 he had frequently received it from Trans-Baikal in full summer plumage. Pere David is of opinion that it 

 migrates from India to the borders of Lake Baikal and into the eastern parts of Siberia, as also into Southern 

 China. It seems not unreasonable to doubt whether it performs such a stupendous journey as would be 

 incurred in crossing the vast territory known as Mongolia, with its lonely deserts and lofty ranges of 

 mountains, and thence through the scarcely less extensive region of Thibet, passing finally over the spurs of 

 the Snowy ranges, and then spreading throughout the plains of India ; and I would suggest that there is 

 probably a double migratory stream — the one from Thibet and the Hoang-ho valley passing into India and 

 Burniah, and the other from the Trans-Baikal region into China. As the L. phcenicurus of Pallas, it was, 

 remarks Lord Tweeddale, met with first by this traveller in the month of June " amongst the rocks of the 

 mountain of Adon-Scholo, near the river Onon in Dauria." 



Habits. — This " Butcher-bird " frequents bushy land, uncultivated scrubby ground, hedge-rows, the 

 borders of jungle, and all situations in which there are low trees and shrubs, on the tops of which it perches, 

 flying from one to another, and repeatedly uttering its harsh cry. It is very querulous in its disposition ; and 

 there is no Ceylonese bird that I know of which gives one so much the impression of always being in a rage as 

 this ! On a sudden, when scarcely a bird-note is heard during the usual lull after the morning feed is over, 

 one of these Shrikes will suddenly appear on the top of a cinnamon-bush, having flown up from the ground or 

 from some low shrub, and commence screaming with all its might, whether by way of expressing its appro- 

 bation of the flavour of the last lusty grasshopper that it has put an end to, or for the purpose of scolding its 

 nearest fellow mate must be left to some one better versed in bird-language than I ; but certain it is that the 



be the case. I have examples with heads almost as brown as those of the Philippine species. Mr. Hume observes, 

 in his account of this species at the Andamans, that the bill is generally slightly longer than in L. cristatus ; but 

 this rule does not invariably seem to hold good. 



Distribution. — Should this species visit Ceylon to a limited extent (and there is no reason why it should not, as it is 

 found in the Andamans), it most probably strays over most of the low country. Mr. Hume does not mention from what 

 district his specimen came. It was originally described from Luzon, one of the Philippines, whence it was brought by 

 Poivre. Lord Tweeddale writes that " it migrates to North China during the spring, and returns south to the 

 Philippines at the close of summer, many in their passage resting in Formosa, and some, according to Mr. Swinhoe's latest 

 observations, passing the winter in that island. He also observed it passing over at Hong-Kong in the spring, and found 

 it at Talien Bay, North China, during the end of June, where it, however, became much scarcer towards the middle of 

 July." It must breed in China, for Swinhoe remarks (P. Z. S. 1S71) that " those collected on the passage through Formosa 

 were all immature, as if they had not strength to make the through voyage to the Philippines without rest." In the 

 Andamans many immature birds no doubt remain during the cool season, for Mr. Hume says it appears to be a 

 permanent resident in those islands. It was found in this group at Port Blair, and at Camorta in the Nicobars. In 

 Tenasserim it is a " straggler to the southern extremity of the Province," and must of necessity occur there on its 

 passage westward from the adjacent north-eastern portion of the continent. An example of a Shrike, similar to that sent 

 to Mr. Hume from Ceylon, is recorded by this gentleman as having been obtained in the Travancore hills in February : 

 it was nearly adult ; and this, at such a season of the year, is such an extraordinary occurrence that it fosters the belief 

 already expressed of its being perhaps a new and not yet discriminated species. 



Habits. — Mr. Davison remarks that the habits of this Shrike do not differ from L. eryihronotus ; it kept to gardens 

 in the Andamans and was very silent. Swinhoe, however, says that it has a sweet song. 



