CHIMARBHORSIS. 89 



Genus CHIMARRHORNIS, Hodgs., 1844. 



The genus Chimarrhornis is closely allied to the Forktails in 

 habits, and connects them with the Redstarts. The sole species of 

 this genus is found on the Himalayas and on certain hill-ranges of 

 Assam and Burma. 



Fig. 27.— Head of C. leucocephalus. 



In Chimarrhornis the sexes are alike, and the tail, which is 

 chestnut tipped with black, is much rounded; the wing is large 

 and rounded, the first primary being about half the length of the 

 second ; the tarsus is long. 



638. Chimarrhornis leucocephalus. The White-capped 



Redstart. 



Phoenicura leucocephala, Vigors, P. Z. S. 1830, p. 35 ; Gould, Cent. 



pi. xx vi, tig. 1. 

 Ruticilla leucocephala (Vig.), Blyth, Cat. p. 1G9; Horsf. 8f M. Cat. 



i, p. 309 ; Blanf. J. A. S. B. xli, pt. ii, p. 51. 

 Chtemorrornis leucocephala {Vig.), Jerd. B. I. ii, p. 143; Stoliczka, 



J. A. S. B. xxxvii, pt. ii, p. 44 ; A. Anders. S. F. iii, p. 355 ; Hume 



cy Senders. Lah. to Yark. p. 214; Hume, Cat. no. 508; Scully, 



S. F. viii, p. 303; Oates, B. B. i, p. 24. 

 Chimarrhornis leucocephala (Vig.), Anders. Yunnan Exped., Aves, 



p. 613 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. vii, p. 47 ; Hume, S. F. xi, p. 197 ; 



Oates in Hume's N. Sf E. 2nd ed. ii, p. 63. 



Gir-chaondia, Hind. ; Kali-pholia at Mohun Ghat ; Mati-tap-pho, 

 Lepch. ; Chubia-mati, Bhut. 



Coloration. Crown and nape white ; with this exception, the 

 whole head and neck, with the breast, back, and the whole of the 

 \\ ingsi black ; rump, upper tail-coverts, abdomen, flanks, and under 

 tail-coverts chestnut ; tail chestnut, broadly tipped with black. 



The young have the plumage blackish brown, the feathers of the 

 back, rump, and of the whole lower plumage fringed with rufous : 

 crown and nape white with black edges; tail and wings as in the 

 adult. The rufous and black tips and fringes are soon cast off, 

 and the adult plumage assumed in October or November. 



Bill black ; gape fleshy white ; iris deep brown ; feet blackish 

 brown ; claws black (Scully). 



Length about 7*5 ; tail 3-2 ; wing 3-9 ; tarsus 1-2 ; bill from 

 gape -8. 



Distribution. The Himalayas from Afghanistan and Gilgit to 

 Assam; the Khasi hills; Manipur; the second defile, Irrawaddv 

 river ; Arrakan. 



