SAXICOLINJE. 121 



479. Thamnobia fulicata, Linn. 



Motacilla, apud Linna'us — Jerdon, Cat. 103 — Blyth, Cat. 

 0G7— IIoESF., Cat. 428— Ixos, apud Sykes, Cat. 72— Tham. 

 Icucoptcra, Swains. — Kalchuri, H. — Nalanchi, Tel. — IVannati- 

 kuravi, Tarn., i. e., Washerman-bird. 



The Indian Black Robin. 



Descr. — Male, shining deep black, -with a wliite wing spot ; the 

 middle of the abdomen and the under tail-covcrt3 deep chcsnut. 

 The female is dull sooty-brown, darkened on the wings and tail, 

 the under tail-coverts chesnut. 



Length 6 inches; wing 2^"^ to 3; tall 2| ; tarsus lyV ; bill at 

 front barely ^ inch. Bill black ; iridcs dark brown. 



This well known bird is found throughout Southern India 

 as far north as the Taptee on the West, but only extending to 

 the Godavery on the East. Nortli of tliis it is replaced by the 

 next species. 



Its familiar habits well entitle it to the name of Indian Robin. 

 It is mostly found about villages, pagodas, old buildings, and 

 mud walls, often perching on the roofs of houses and tops of walls, 

 and feeding in verandahs, or occasionally even entering houses. 

 It is, however, not confined to the vicinity of houses or villages, 

 but is very common on rocky and stony hills, and in groves 

 of palmyra or date palms. It is generally seen single, or in pairs, 

 feeds on the ground, on which it hops with great agility, frequently 

 pursuing and capturing several insects before it re-seats itself on 

 its perch either on a house or on a neighbouring tree or bush. 

 At all times, but especially when feeding, it has the habit of jerk- 

 ing wp its tail by successive efiPorts, so as almost to overshadow 

 its head. The male has a very sweet little song, which it warWcs 

 forth from the top of a wall or low tree, and it is occasionally 

 caged. It builds among rocks, on holes in houses or mud walls ; 

 also low down on the stem of palm trees, where the broken stalk 

 of the frond juts out from the trunk : Burgess says, ' under tussocks 

 of grass.' On one occasion a pair built their nest, at Jalnah, 

 among a heap of stones raised from a well. It was being deep- 

 ened, and they made their nest during the time the rock was being 



Q 



