LANIUS CANICEPS. 385 



" The nest, cup-shaped and neatly built, is placed in low trees, shrubs, and bushes, generally thorny ones ; the 

 outside of the nest is chiefly composed of weed (a white downy species is invariably present), fibres, and hay, 

 and it is lined with grass and hair. There is often a good deal of earth built in with roots and fibres in the 

 foundation of this nest. Four appears to be the usual number of eggs laid." Mr. Davison's account of its 

 nesting is as follows : — " This species builds in bushes or trees at about 6 to 20 feet from the ground. A 

 thorny thick bush is generally preferred, Berberis asiatica being a favourite. The nest is a large, deep, cup- 

 shaped structure, rather neatly made of grass mingled with old pieces of rag, paper, &c, and lined with fine 

 grass. The eggs, four or five in number, are white, spotted with blackish brown chiefly at the thicker end, 

 where the spots generally form a zone." Mr. Hume remarks that the eggs are undistinguishable, in many 

 instances, from those of its close ally L. erythronotus, though they vary less and average longer. In length 

 they range from 0'93 to 1*0 inch, and in breadth from 0-7 to 0"72inch; but the average of twenty was 

 0-95 by 0-7 inch. 



PASSERES. 

 Fam. DICRUEID^. 



Bill stout, both wide and high at the base, the upper mandible moderately curved, and the 

 tips of both mandibles notched ; gape armed with stout bristles. Wings moderately long. Tail 

 of 10 feathers only, forked, and with the lateral feathers occasionally much lengthened. Legs 

 short ; feet rather small. 



Plumage black. Sternum with a tolerably large foramen in each half of the posterior edge 

 (Chibia hottentota and Bhringa remifer). 



Genus BUCHANGA. 

 Bill stout, broad at the base, the upper mandible high ; the culmen keeled and well curved 

 to the tip, which, as well as that of the under mandible, has a distinct notch. Nostrils oval, 

 small, concealed by the impending plumes. Rictal bristles long and stout. Wings pointed ; the 

 4th quill the longest, the 2nd subequal to the 7th and twice as long as the 1st. Tail long, 

 deeply forked, and expanding at the tip. Tarsus longer than the middle toe, protected with 

 stout transverse scuta?. Feet rather small and stoutly scaled ; hind toe and claw large. 



3d 



