196 U L'SCICAPID Ji. 



patch composed of the iuuermost of the least, mediau, and greater 

 •wing-coverts, aa well as the adjoining outer greater coverts, which are 

 white on the inner weh, and the bases of the inner secondaries, which 

 are white ; rump and upper taO-coverts pure white ; tail-feathers, a 

 few of the feathers white at the extreme base ; sides of the face, 

 sides of neck, and entire under surface glossy black, the vent and 

 under tail-coverts white; some of the feathers of the lower abdomen 

 and the thighs with obscure white edgings ; under Aviug-coverts and 

 axillaries black, a few narrowly edged with white ; t|uills black be- 

 low ; "biU aud feet black; iris dark brown'' {A. Everett). Total 

 length 5"4 inches, calmcn 0"4o, wing 2-6, tail 2*1, tarsus OS. 



The younger males appear to be some time in gaining the full 

 black plumage and remain for some little while with the entire ab- 

 domen white, instead of having only the vent and under tail-coverts 

 white ; along with this white abdomen is sometimes found a broad 

 white edging to the under wing-coverts, aud occasionally some of 

 the primaries are externally margined with white. 



Adult female. Quite different in plumage to the male. Above 

 ashy brown, with darker brown centres to the feathers of the head, 

 scapulars, aud back ; lower rump and upper tail-coverts huffy white, 

 somewhat washed with rust-colour, the long tail-coverts tipped with 

 this latter coloiu' ; tail-feathers dark brown ; wing-coverts and 

 quills dark brown margined with lighter brown, much paler on the 

 edges of the primaries ; feathers in front of the eye and eyebrow 

 ashy ; ear-coverts dark brown, as also the feathers under the eye ; 

 cheeks and under surface of body brown, the chin and fore part of 

 cheeks margined with whity brown, the breast slightly mottled with 

 darker brown centres to the feathers ; the abdomen inclining to 

 ochraceous brown ; under tail-coverts white ; under wing-coverts 

 rather rufescent brown with an ashy shade ; quills brown below, 

 shaded lighter along the inner webs. Total length 5-4 inches, 

 culmen 0"45, wing 2-75, tail 2-1, tarsus OS. 



Young. Mottled all over like a young Robin, the upper surface 

 being f ulvescent, edged with darker brown ; the head blackish brown, 

 streaked down the centre of the feathers with deep fulvous ; wing- 

 coverts and quills edged with fawn-colour ; under surface of body 

 fulvous, slightly varied with dark edges to the feathers of the breast. 



This species appears to have a winter plumage, when the black 

 feathers are edged with rusty ochre. 



Ohs. Individuals from the Xeilgherries and Ceylon have been kept 

 distinct by many ornithologists on account of their larger size. Mr. 

 Hume writes (Str. F. 1873, p. 183): — "I very much doubt the 

 propriety of retaining P. utrata, Blyth, as a distinct species. All 

 that can be said is, that the Xorthern-Indian specimens of P. 

 caprata are generally smallest, Central-Indian, Goojerat, and Sindh 

 birds intermediate, and Southern-Indian and Ceylon birds largest. 

 Those who think the larger size a sufficient specific character must 

 separate the Celyonese bird as Pratincola atrata or P. hicolor, Sykes." 



A considerable dift'erence exists in the amount of white on the 



