1839] 



of the Peninsula of India. 



237 



spied on a branch at a short distance. Seen singly, or in small flocks? 

 when they generally keep up a noisy and harsh chattering. 



Descr. — Above, slaty cinereous — an e\ eband, extending from nostrils 

 to half an inch behind the eye, black — rump and beneath white, the 

 breast with a tinge of reddi sh cinereous — wings and tail dusky brown. 

 Lengih 8| inches ; tail 3±; wing 4| ; tarsus T yhs ; bill (to gape) 

 ly^ths ; hides greenish or wax. yellow. 



53. T, svperciliosus, Sw. — Lan. muscicapoides, Frankl. — L. Keroula, 

 Gray — Gray and Hardwicke, 111. Ind. Zool. (bad figure). — Common 

 wood shrilce. 



This species has been lately accurately described by Swainson,* but 

 without the synonymes, of which he was probably unaware. It is generally 

 spread throughout Southern India, but in no place abundant, though it is 

 far from being rare in some parts of the country. I have seen it most nu- 

 merous in Goomsoor, and in the Wul liar jungle (in the gap of Coimbatore). 

 Colonel Sykes says it is rare in the Deccan — this is to be expected, from 

 the bareness of the country. Though never found in dense jungle like 

 the preceding one, the wood shrike is found in open jungle, in open 

 spaces on the borders of thick forests, woody nullahs, topes, avenues, 

 and even thick hedges occasionally. It has similar habits with the last ; 

 slowly traversing the branches of the trees it frequents in search of in- 

 sects, chiefly coleoptera. Like it also it hunts in small flocks, or singly. 



Length 6^ inches; wing 3| ; tail 2f. — Irides greenish wax yellow (as 

 in the last). 



Gen. OCYPTEKUS, Cuv.— Swallow Shrike. 



54. 0, leucerhynchos.—dsh-coloured Swallow Shrilce. 



Appears to be universally spread over India ; but is by no means com- 

 mon, and I have had very few opportunities of observing it. It prefers a 

 wooded country, and alwav s I believe takes its food, which consists chief- 

 ly of soft wing ed insects, in the air. I saw a flock once flyingover an open 

 space in the Wulliar jungle like swallows; again near Palamcottah, in a 

 palmyra tope, a small flock of them, one every now and then darting 



* TwoCenlenaries and a Quarter oj Birds, either neio, or hitherto imperfectly described.— Ani- 

 mals in Menageries, Part 3, No. 9 :— Lardner's Cabinet Cycl. 



