Note 303 — Chapter XXVI · THE SHRIKE

The Indian Grey Shrike (Lanius lahtora), called in the Derajat laṭorā and mamālā, used to be trained in Dera Ismail Khan to catch small birds. A smaller species called mamālī—probably the Rufous-backed Shrike, the harwājī of Kashmir (Lanius erythronotus)—does not appear to have been trained. Of the former Jerdon writes:—“Mr. Philipps states that he has seen it capture small birds; and that in the North-West, it is occasionally trained to do so. He also relates that it is sometimes picketed to the ground, closely attached to a starling, the neighbouring bushes, twigs, etc., being well smeared with bird-lime. All sorts of birds come to witness the supposed fight and to separate the combatants, and many are captured by the limed branches.”