Descriptive Inst of the Common Birds 
during flight. A reddish-brown bird with 
white cheeks and throat and a whitish eyebrow. 
Unlike the other butcher birds this species 
is merely a winter visitor to India. It spreads 
itself over all parts of the country save the 
N.W. F. P. and the Punjab. (A few individ- 
uals are said to remain in India to nest.) 
It has a harsh chattering note, which it 
utters incessantly. It is regarded in Calcutta 
as the herald of the cold weather. (Illus. G. B., 
p- 16.) : 
38. Tephrodornis pondicerianus: ‘The Com- 
mon Woodshrike. (F. 488), (J. 265), (+1.) 
An ashy-brown bird, having a broad white 
eyebrow and the outer tail feathers white. 
Occurs chiefly in gardens and avenues. It is 
most easily recognised by its pretty mellow 
note, which Jesse syllabises as tanti-tuia. 
The Minivets, 39-41 
Minivets are brightly coloured little birds, 
which usually go about in small flocks, picking 
insects from off the leaves of trees. They 
build neat cup-shaped nests, which are usually 
placed on a horizontal branch. The nest is 
’ difficult to find, as when seen from below it 
H 113 
