3 
purer grey in the males and young birds; head similarly coloured; wings, tail, and underparts 
as in the mountain form. The mountain form inhabits chiefly the wooded portions of the Thian- 
shan to an altitude of from 7000 to 8000 feet; and the lowland form occurs in the bushes and 
thorn-thickets near Syr Darja, Mi, and Lepsa, below 1000 feet. In the cultivated districts both 
forms are found in gardens, and intermediate specimens may be found. As regards Lanius 
isabellinus, numbers were obtained on passage, in spring, in Chimkent and Tashkend, between 
the 20th February and the 20-25th March; but in the autumn it was not observed there, 
though it was seen in Aulje-ata early in September. It breeds in the steppes near Balchash, 
Chu, and Talass. Neither of the two forms of Lanius phenicurus arrive in Tashkend and 
Chimkent before the early part of April.” 
Mr. Blanford, who met with it in Persia, writes (HK. Pers. ii. p. 142) as follows :—“TI did not 
see this bird in Baltchistan in the winter—which is curious, because it abounds in Sind at that 
season. The first time that I met with it was north-west of Bampur; and thence it was frequently 
seen to beyond Shiraz; but I did not observe it in Northern Persia, and it is not recorded in 
De Filippi’s list. It certainly breeds on the Southern Persian highlands; and I have no doubt 
that the pair which I shot on the 14th April had a nest close by, although I could not 
succeed in discovering it. The altitudes at which some birds were killed show that Lanius 
isabellinus ranges to a considerable elevation. Its habits present no peculiarity: it is found in 
thinly-wooded districts, and, like its relative, sits conspicuously on the tops of bushes and on 
prominent twigs, whence it pounces down on insects.” In Sindh it is common in the winter . 
and Dr. Jerdon says that it is found between that country and Ferozepore, and it is apparently 
not uncommon in North-west India. Hayes Lloyd records it from Kattiawar ; and it is said to be 
common on the Punjab, but rarer in the Sutlej valley; and Stoliczka found it in Thibet in the 
summer season. ‘There is also a specimen, apparently in full summer dress, from Hyderabad, 
in the Kast-India Museum. Messrs. Henderson and Hume, who figure the present species in 
winter dress, say (Lahore to Yarkand, p. 183) that it was only observed in the plains of the 
Punjab between Cashmere and Lahore; and Colonel Prjevalsky, who obtained it in Mongolia, 
writes (Rowl. Orn. Mise. ii. p. 274) that it breeds in Ordos and Alashan, and is rather numerous in 
the Hoangho valley, still not so abundant as Lanius phenicurus, Pall. He did not meet with 
it in China proper, and consequently supposes that the Ordos mountain-range constitutes its 
eastern boundary, whither it goes from Persia and Afghanistan. It appears probable that the 
present species occurs also in Dauria; for Dr. Dybowski sent to the Berlin Museum a pair of 
Shrikes obtained in Argun-Dauria in May, which were described as new by Mr. Taczanowski 
(J. f. O. 1874, p. 322), under the name of Lanius speculigerus. I have not had an opportunity 
of examining these specimens, which, if not specifically identical with, must be very closely allied 
to the present species; for Mr. Schalow writes respecting them as follows:—‘“ In the bill and 
wing this species approaches Otomela phcnicuroides, whereas the tail, though a little longer, 
resembles that of Otomela isabellina. The male differs from the male of Otomela phenicuroides 
in having the head and back more grey and the tail duller red. An apparently younger female 
has the back brownish, as in the male of Severtzoff’s species. The quills are lighter brown; the 
underparts are rusty brown with clearly defined wavy markings on the breast, sides of the throat, 
and cheeks;” and he adds that the differences may merely be owing to age. 
41 
cD) 
