DETAILED LIST OF BIRDS. 
183 
the true L. phoenicurus (Pallas), corresponding as they do 
with his brief description (except in having the rump and 
tail coverts dull instead of intense rufous), and differing as 
they do from the ordinary type of L. cristatus obtained in 
the cold weather in the plains of India, in the almost entire 
absence of the superciliary stripe, and in the somewhat 
greyer tint of the upper surface. After comparison, how- 
ever, with a large series of L. cristatus I found that this species 
is very variable in these respects, and that no valid grounds 
existed for separating these specimens as distinct from L. 
cristatus. Structurally they are identical. I should not be 
at all surprised if Pallas' L. phcenicurus was founded on a 
male L. cristatus in breeding plumage. We now know 
the latter goes as far north as Yarkand to breed, and 
probably extends its migrations much further. 
This species was never met with by the Expedition out 
of Yarkand — it is one of those birds that migrate north- 
west and south-east, and not north and south. I have never 
met with it in the N.W. Provinces or tlie Panjab west of 
the Ganges, except in the interior of the Himalayas or in 
the Terai or Dhoons at their feet, on its upward or down- 
ward journey. It may be that dry plains are unsuitable to it 
and moisture and luxuriant vegetation a necessity, in the cold 
weather at any rate. Certain it is that throughout the dry 
bare country of Upper India L. cristatus is unknown, and 
is replaced by the next species. \_A. O. H.~\ 
262. Lanius arenarius (Blyth). (PI. III.) 
The Desert Shrike was only observed by the Expedition 
on its return journey, in the plains of the Panjab between 
Kashmir and Lahore. [G. H.] 
Where this species breeds is as yet unknown ; it is never 
met with in Kashmir, and probably resorts for its honey- 
moon to Afghanistan and Persia — there is really no 
accounting for tastes ! Alike in colour and in the regions 
which it affects during the cold season is this desert bird. 
It is a very distinct species, and we take this opportunity 
of figuring it, as we believe, for the first time. [A. O. H.} 
