75 



White-capped Redstart (Chcemorromis leucocephala) : This was 



rather rough in plumage, but still very fit, au<l giving promise of even 



greater beauty than the two preceding ; as I made no note of this species I 



quote the following description of the male from Jerdon's " Birds of India " : 



" Frontal band, lores, ear-coverts, throat, neck and breast, back, wings and tip of 



"tail feathers, black; abdomen, rump, upper and lower tail coverts, and more than 



" two-thirds of the tail, deep rich chestnut; crown of head and nape, pure white : bill, 



"black; legs, vinaceous-brown ; irides, bark brown. Total length 7}iu." 



The Redstarts feed almost exclusively on insects, and in captivity 

 should be fed on soft food and a liberal supply of live insects. 



The Blue Wood-chat Larvivora cyana) : This pretty species has 

 already been described from notes by Captain Perrean in a recent issue of 

 Bird 'Notes. And though only a female has survived the ordeals of the 

 voyage, this is one of the fittest birds among the series, and not merely 

 pretty but certainly beautiful, while when one pauses to admire its graceful 

 contour and deportment it is simply entrancing. That fourth command- 

 ment went by the board again while I admired this lovely little creature. 



The Blue-headed Robin (Adelura cazrnleicepliala): Oates' call 

 this species the Blue-headed Wood Chat. Almost as dainty and fairy-like 

 as the preceding; a pair and an odd <? were disporting themselves about 

 the room while I watched them, making observation very difficult ; but 

 they appeared to be blackish Prussian-blue above, and whitish below; fore- 

 head and front of crown being cyaneous. It feeds, when in its native wilds, 

 mostly on the ground and practically entirely on various insects. Diet in 

 captivity : soft food and live insects in abundance. 



The Red-fi.anked Bush Robin (Ianthia rufilata) : Very similar to 

 the preceding, but has the flanks rusty-red, and a little ultramarine-blue 

 on the shoulder. Only one landed. 



Of the following, only one of each survived the voyage : Himalayan 

 Ruby-throat {Calliope kamtschatkensis) a fine songster ; Blue-headed Rock 

 Thrush (Pelrophlia cinclorhyncha) ; The Green-backed Tit (Parus monticolus) 

 a lovely bird, very similar to the English Great Tit, but richer and purer in 

 hue, very tame and fearless; Magpie Robin or Dayal Bird {Copsychus 

 saularis); Himalayan vStieaked Laughing-Thrush, Grey-headed Ouzel 

 (Merula castanea); Indian Pipit (Pipastes agilis) very similar to the Eng- 

 lish bird, but more fulvous on the lower face and sides of neck ; Chinese 

 Laughing Thrush (Tiochaloptertim canorum) also known as Spectacled 

 Thrush; Himalayan Linnet. 



Of the following, several odd birds and pairs were safely landed : 

 Himalayan Whistling Thrush (Myiophoneus temmiiicki) a bird of large size, 

 great beauty and power of song ; Grey-winged Ouzel (Merula boulboul) a 

 well known species, of fine appearance and grand songster ; Accentors 

 (Accentor slrophwtus ? ) The Rufous-breasted; Himalayan Goldfinch 



