Two yellow shrikes on a branch of red lychee, one is preening himself while the other retracts one foot and looks out, turning his head.  The effect is life-like, highly refined and suggests a relaxed atmosphere.  There is no signature or seal.  The original label had attributed the painting to the 10th century master Hsu Hsi.  An inscription by the Chien-lung Emperor is omitted.

An inscription on the facing leaf by Chu Chih-pu reads:

[Hsu] Hsi's painting of birds, fishes, flowers or trees was
equal to the marvels of creation.  As for the air and marrow
of his works, they often rivaled those of Huang Chuan and
Chao Chang.  His paintings were mostly done on
Cheng-hsin-tang paper.  Mi [Fu] Yuan-chang used to say
that the silk Hsu used was like cotton cloth.