384 
LANIU8 CANICEPS. 
As our species was entered as L. tephronotus in Kelaart’s Catalogue, it may not be out of place to mention, for the 
information of my Ceylon readers, that this Shrike is a very distinct bird from either of those in question. It is 
a large bird, with the wing varying from 3-9 to 4-3 inches, and the tail about oj ; dark grey on the head and back, 
with the rump and upper tail-coverts dusky rufous ; the wings and tail not so black, but the under surface 
much as in L. canice^s. 
Distribution.—^hh large Butcher-bird inhabits the Jaffna peninsula, the e.vtreme north of the Vanni 
and the whole of the N.W. coast, from Poonerin to the country between Chilaw and Puttalam, includin<^ the 
islands of Manaar and Karativoe. On the Erinativoe Islands I did not observe it. It does not seem to 
extend far inland, although it is very abundant on the sea-board. It has been proeured by Mr. Hart on the 
Puttalam and Kandy road as far up as Nikerawettiya ; westward of that about Kurunegala, in the Seven 
Ivorales, and in the region along the base of the west Matale hills I searched diligently for it without success. 
In the Jaffna peninsula it is chiefly abundant about Point Pedro. In the island of Manaar, and on the open 
bushy plains of the adjacent coast as far south as Pomp-Aripu, it is abundant. Southward of this place its 
numbers dimmish ; and no example has ever, to my knowledge, been procured south of Chilaw, although I 
observe that Mr. Holdsworth is of opinion that he saw it occasionally in the cinnamon-gardens at Colombo 
The foregoing species is very common in that locality, but the present bird has not yet been obtained there 
up to the date of my latest advices from the Colombo museum. 
On the continent the Eufous-rumped Shrike is found in the south of India and up the east coast as far 
north as the Godaveri river. I do not observe that it has been found either by Messrs. Pairbank or by the 
authors of the recent contribution to the avifauna of the Deccan, Messrs. Davidson and Wender, in this 
region. Mr. Ball likewise does not record it from the coast region north of the Godaveri. It would appear 
however, that it has been found in Cashmere and in Afghanistan— that is, if Blyth’s identification of 
Captain Hutton^s specimens was correct. As late as 1873 Mr. Hume incorporates the latter gentlemaiPs 
notes on its nesting in that region in 'Nests and Eggs;^ and I therefore infer that he considers the 
identification correct. It is also found in the N.W . Himalayas ; but from intermediate localities, such as Sindh 
nizerat, Sambhur, or the neighbourhood of Putteghur, it does not appear ever to have been recorded Jerdon 
writes of this species, in his ' Illustrations of Indian Ornithology,^ 1847, at a time when he considered it 
distinct from L. erythronotus (for in his ‘ Birds of India ^ he unites the two), that though “ occasionally found 
ui the more wooded parts of the country in the Carnatic, it is only common in the neighbourhood of the 
jungles of the west coast, and is very abundant on the top of the Nilghiris.” Mr. Pairbank says that it is 
resident on the summit of the Palani ranges and breeds there. ^ 
Habits .— Its mode of living the present species resembles the remainder of this interesting family 
It frequents low thorny jungle, scrubby land, and open places near the sea-coast, which are dotted here and 
there with clumps of low trees and bushes. When not engaged in catching its prey it seems to pass 
most of Its time on the top of a shrub, uttering its harsh cry as if it were on bad terms with all its 
neighbours. It is very noisy in the mornings and evenings, flying about from bush to bush, and is so restless 
that It IS very difficult to approach. There is in its disposition evidently that dislike for the presence of 
man that characterizes all its congeners with which I am acquainted ; and it decidedly disapproves of his 
endeavouring to make acquaintance with its habits by even presuming to watch its movements, for as soon as 
It observes that it is an object of interest it immediately decamps. It feeds on grasshoppers, which it entraps 
on the ground, and also preys on Mantidse and dragonflies. 
Ntdificaiion. This bird breeds in the Jaffna district and on the north-west coast from Pebruary until 
May. Mr. Holdsworth found its nest in a thorn-bush about 6 feet high, near the compound of his bungalow 
m the beginning of February. He describes it as cup-shaped, made of rather slender twigs and lined witli 
roots. Unfortunately the young were just fledged at the time he discovered it, and he therefore obtained no 
information as to the eggs of the species. Layard speaks of the young being fledged in June at Point Pedro 
and says tliat it builds in Euphorbia-trees in that district. * 
Beferring to Mr. Hume^s ' Nest and Eggs,' I find it recorded that the breeding-season of this Shrike in 
.outh India extends from March until July. Concerning its nesting in the Nilghiris, Mr. Wait writes 
