678 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. 



629. The Brown Bock Chat — Cercomela fusca, Blyth. 



Probably a permanent resident. Several were seen during 

 the winter in Ambala, and others were observed at Mubariqpur, 

 Bilaspur, Rupar and Karar. 



630. The Western Spotted Forktail — Henicurus maculatus, Vigors. 



Several were seen in a nala close to Kalka on the Kasauii Koad 

 during the last week of December. 



638. The White-capped Redstart — Chimarrhornis leucoeephalus (Vig.) 

 I shot a male in the Nalahs at Chandigar on I2th February and 

 saw one in a stream close to Kalka in the last week of December. 

 Beavan states that he observed it on the streams of the 

 lower hill range on the Simla cart road between Kalka and 

 Dhurumpore. At Ambala on 12th November 4 specimens in the 

 flesh were brought in by my shikari which he said he had 

 procured in the neighbouring hills." 



644. The Indian Redstart — Ruticilla rufiuentris (Vieill). 



This very abundant winter visitor had already arrived and was 

 generally distributed when I arrived in the district ; it re- 

 mained common until the end of March and there were still 

 some about during the first half of April, but I saw none after 

 the 15th. None were observed in Kasauii during my visit in 

 March, but there were a few in the Nalahs about Kalka in the 

 last week of December, 



647 ■ The Red-spotted Bluethroat — Cyanecula suecica, (L.) 



" Observed about Ambala in sugarcanes in lb65, tolerably 

 abundant. Again at Ambala, October 24th, 1866, when I 

 secured specimens". (Beavan.) 



I found this Bluethroat to be numerous about Mubariqpur 

 early in November ; it was also 1 think common in the crops at 

 Headquarters about that time. Then with the excei tion of 3 

 seen near Chamkaur on 12th and 13th December, 1 saw no more 

 until 26th March, when a single specimen was found at Chandi- 

 ghar ; another (perhaps a second) was seen at Ambala on 

 9th April. 



6o7. The Blue-headed Robin — Adelura ccBruleicephala (Vig.) 



During the last week of December 1 found this Robin common 

 in the n ore open parts of the low nalahs between Kalka and the 

 Kasauii Road toll-gate ; there were also some about the hiU 

 sides. From 6th to 9th March it was also fairly common on the 

 open hill side in sparse Chir jungle on the north slope of Kasauii. 

 The bird is not shy and as it flutters about the branches of 

 trees, picking off insects and then sitting still for a space, the 

 demeanour is that of a true Redstart. But the movement of 

 the tail is more of a shake than the quiver of the latter. 



661.* The Brown-backed Indian Robin — Tlummohiacambaiemis (Lath.) 

 Beavan has recorded: "Ambala, October 27th, 1866 — I have 

 noticed that this species, which is so abundant here a little 

 later, and which breeds here in numbers in February and March, 

 has almost entirely disappeared, and is conspicuous by its 

 absence. ' This statement is referred to by Hume in his Nests 

 and Eggs of Indian liirds (2nd Ed., Vol. fl, p. 75), with ^he 

 remark that he had not himself been able to verify the fact of ihe 

 species being migratory. 1 however found it abundant throi gh- 

 out the winter, but noticed that it became more conspicuous 



