382 
LANIUS CEISTATUS. 
said companion very soon appears on a neighbouring bush and vies with him in creating a general disturbance ! 
Ibere is this much to be said, that it is more noisy when it first arrives than after it has settled down in its 
new quaiters ; and is it to be wondered that after suc/i a journey it should desire to proclaim its safe arrival ? 
It is a restless bird, continually on the move, and is very difficult to come within range of, as directly it 
perceives that it is being approached it flies off to another perch. I have often seen it on the ground pur- 
suing grasshoppers by darting at them as they fly out of the grass, and have noticed it proceeding across 
a road with prodigious hops and very erect carriage. Although its food is almost entirely insectivorous, it is 
occasionally guilty of the crime which has acquired for its family the name of Butcher-birds,” as Mr. Bligh 
informs me that he has known it to impale a White-eye {Zosterops ceylonensis) after the manner of the Euro- 
pean species. It never takes long flights while resident, merely proceeding from the top of one bush to another ; 
and during the winter season its note consists of nothing but the harsh chattering above mentioned. Blyth 
says that it warbles very sweetly at the end of the cold season at Calcutta. 
Nidification. I am unable to give my readers any further particulars touching the nesting of this bird 
than those already contained in my extract from Colonel Prjevalski's notes. That it does not breed in India 
is evident, although Tickell was led to suppose that it did so. The nest and eggs described by him were 
evidently those of a Bulbul. 
