occasion I exposed a rat in a cage for the purpose of attracting a Hawk, and in a few minutes found a L. erythronotus fiercely attacking the cage on all sides.  I once caught one alive and kept it for some time.  As soon as it found itself safely enclosed in the cage, it scorned to show any fear, and the third day took food from my hand.  It was very fond of bathing, and was a handsome and interesting pet.”

Messrs. Davidson and Wenden remark:—­“Very common in Satara; breeding freely in beginning of the rains; observed at Lanoli.  Bare in the Sholapoor District and does not appear to breed there.”  And the former gentleman, writing of Western Khandeish, says:—­“A few pairs breed about Dhulia in June and July.”

Mr. C.J.W.  Taylor records the following note from Manzeerabad in Mysore:—­“Plentiful all over the district.  Breeding in May; eggs taken on the 7th.”

I have so fully described the eggs of L. lahtora, of which the eggs of this present species are almost miniatures, that I need say but little in regard to these.  On the whole, the markings in this species are, I think, feebler and less numerous than in L. lahtora; and though this would not strike one in the comparison of a few eggs in each, it is apparent enough when several hundreds of each are laid side by side, four or five abreast, in broad parallel rows.  The ground-colour, too, in the egg of L. erythronotus has seldom, if ever, as much green in it, and has commonly more of the pale creamy or pinky stone-colour than in the case of L. lahtora.

In size the eggs of L. erythronotus appear to approach those of the English Red-backed Shrike, though they average perhaps somewhat smaller.

In length they vary from 0.85 to 1.05 inch, and in breadth from 0.65 to 0.77 inch, but the average of more than one hundred eggs measured is 0.92 by 0.71 inch.

Lanius caniceps.

This closely allied species, the Pale Rufous-backed Shrike, breeds only, so far as I yet know, in the Nilghiris, Palanis, &c.

It lays from March to July, the majority, I think, breeding in June.

Its nest is very similar and is similarly placed to that of the preceding, from which, if it differs at all, it only differs in being somewhat smaller.

It lays from four to six eggs, slightly more elongated ovals than those of L. erythronotus, taken as a body, but not, in my opinion, separable from these when mixed with a large number.

Captain Hutton, however, does not concur in this:  he remarks:—­“This species, which is very common in Afghanistan, occurs also in the Doon and on the hills up to about 6000 feet.  At Jeripanee I took a nest on the 21st June containing five eggs, of a pale livid white colour, sprinkled with brown spots, chiefly collected at the larger end, where, however, they cannot be said to form a ring; interspersed with these are other dull sepia spots appearing beneath the shell.  Diameter 0.94 by 0.69 inch, or in some rather more.  Shape rather tapering ovate.