PRATINCOLA. 61 



Coloration. In all respects similar in plumage to P. eaprata, sex 

 for sex. Differs iu being much larger and in having a con- 

 spicuously more massive bill. 



Length about 6 ; tail 2 - 3 ; wing 3 ; tarsus *9 ; bill from 

 gape 'lz>. 



In distinguishing between this and the preceding species, 

 P. eaprata, the size of the bill alone is quite sufficient. In the 

 present species the bill, measured from the anterior margin of the 

 nostril to the tip, is *4 ; in P. eaprata -3 or less. 



I adopt Kelaart's name for this species, as Sykes's Saxicola 

 hicolor was procured iu the Deccan, where, so far as I know, only 

 P. eaprata, occurs. 



Distribution. Southern India, from the Nilgiris to Cape Comorin, 

 above 5000 feet ; Ceylon. A permanent resident. 



Habits, 6,-c. Breeds from February to May, placing its nest in 

 similar localities to thosa selected by P. eaprata, and laying similar 

 eggs, which, however, are much larger and measure about "77 by - 6. 



610. Pratincola maura. The Indian Bash-Chat. 



Motacilla maura, Pall. Reis. Rms. Reichft, ii, p. 708 (1773). 



Saxicola saturatior, Hodys. in Gray's Zool. Misc. p. 83 (1814). 



Pratincola iudica, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xvi, p. 129 (1817); id. Cat. 

 p. 170; Jerd. B. I. ii, p. 124; Cabanis, Juurn. f. Orn. 1873, 

 p. 359 ; Severtz. S. F. iii, p. 429 ; Anders. Yunnan Exped., Aves, 

 p. 618; Hume, Cat. no. 483 ; Barnes, Birds Bom. p. 200. 



Pratincola albosuperciliaris, Hume, S. F. i, p. 337 (1873). 



Pratincola rubicola {Linn.), apud Hume, N. fy E. p. 316 ; Hume ty 

 Haiders. Lull, to Yark. p. 204. 



Pratincoli maura {Pall.), Sharpe, Cat.B. M. iv, p. 183; Oates, B. B. 

 i, p. 279 ; id. in Hume's N. Sf E. 2nd ed. ii, p. 48. 



Adnvi-kampa-nalanchi, Adavi-kampa-jitta, Tel. 



Coloration. Male. After the autumn moult the forehead, crown, 

 napa, hind ueck, back, scapulars, and upper rump are black, with 

 broad fulvous or rufous margins to the feathers ; the innermost 

 wing-coverts pure white ; the remaining upper wing-coverts black, 

 edged with rufous ; primary-coverts and winglet black, edged with 

 whitish ; quills dark brown, the primaries narrowly, the other 

 quills broadly, edged with rufous on the outer web and tip ; lower 

 rump and tail-coverts white, frequently suffused with orange- 

 rufous ; tail black, narrowly edged with pale rufous ; the extreme 

 bases of the feathers white ; lores, sides of the head, chin, and throat 

 black, most of the feathers edged with fulvous ; a large patch of 

 white on each side of the neck ; breast orange-rufous ; remainder of 

 the lower plumage paler rufous ; under wing-coverts and axillaries 

 black with narrow white tips. In summer the margins of the 

 feathers of the black portions of the plumage are almost entirely 

 lost, and these parts become deep black. 



Female. After the autumn moult the upper plumage, wings, and 

 tail resemble those parts in the male, but the black is everywhere 



