124 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



jungle. It extends to Burmah and the Malayan countries, and 

 even to the Philippines. It has the usual habits of the tribe, dart- 

 ing down to the ground from its perch, xisually on the top of a bush 

 or branch of a tree, and, having secured an insect, returning to 

 its seat. It has a pleasant song, v\rhich Blyth compares to that 

 of the English Robin, but more uniformly plaintive. It is rather 

 a favorite cage-bird in Bengal. Tickcll got the nest in a bush, 

 made of grass, with three pale greenish white eggs, sprinkled 

 equally throughout, with brown spots. 



482. Pratincola atrata, Blyth. 



J. A. S. XX., 177— Jerdon, Cat. 105 (in part). 



The Neilgherry Black Robin. 



Descr. — Very similar to the last, larger. No gradation of size 

 has been observed between this and the last species. Length G^ 

 inches; wing 3:|^; tail 2;^ ; tarsus -j%. 



In my Catalogue I did not distinguish this specifically from the 

 last, but called attention to the difference of size between it and 

 the low country one, P. caprata. This species is very common 

 on the Neilgherries as well as the upland hilly regions of Ceylon, 

 frequenting the skirts of woods, bushes, and gardens ; and it gets 

 the name of Hill-robin from its familiar habits. I have seen the 

 nest of this bird several times, always on banks, on the road side, 

 neatly made of moss, roots, and hairs, and with usually three or 

 four eggs, bluish-white, with brown specks and spots. 



The next group comprises the Whin-chat of Europe and several 

 allied species. 



483. Pratincola Indica, Blyth. 



J. A. S. XVI., 129— Blyth, Cat. 997— Horsf., Cat. 434— 

 Sax. rubicola, Sykes, Cat. 89— Jerdon, Cat. 104 — P. saturatior, 

 Hodgson — Adavi hampa nalancU, Tel., i. e., Jungle Bush-robin 

 and Adavi-kampa-jitta, i. e., Jungle Bramble-bird. 



The Indian Bush-chat. 

 Descr. — The male, in summer plumage, has the whole head and 

 neck, back, wings, and tail, black ; the back and wmgs edged with 



