464 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



to the same porch. It breeds at Darjeeling, occasionally in the 

 eaves of houses, but generally on a bank; makes a neat nest of 

 moss, lined with black fibres and hair, and has generally four 

 eggs, dull white, with small rufous spots. The male has a very 

 pleasing song, which, as Hutton remarks, he usually pours forth 

 from some high exposed twig. 



A nearly allied species occurs in Malayana, 77. thalassina, 

 Temm. ; smaller, with the bill still broader, the wings and tail 

 shorter, and the blue deeper, 



2nd. Eumyias. 



This section has some white at the base of the tail, the colour 

 is deep blue, and the bill is somewhat more lengthened than in the 

 preceding section. 



302. Eumyias albicaudata, Jerdon. 



Muscicapa apud Jerdon, Cat. 152 —Jerdon, 111. Ind. Orn., pi. 

 14— Blyth, Cat. 1029- HoRSF., Cat. 450. 



The Neilgherry Blue Flycatcher. 



Descr.^-Oi a deep indigo-blue color, inclining to lazuline on 

 the forehead, head, and shoulders ; wings and tail dusky-black, 

 the feathers edged with blue, and those of the tail, the two central 

 feathers excepted, white at their base ; belly ashy-blue, mingled 

 with whitish ; under tail-coverts whitish, barred with dusky blue. 



Bill black ; legs black ; irides deep brown. Length 6|- inches ; 

 extent 9^ ; wing 3 j^^ ; tail 2^-^ ; bill at front 9 mill. ; tarsus -^^. 



The female differs in being more dingy and greyish-blue, and the 

 pale blue markings are less distinct. 



This Flycatcher, as far as we know at present, is confined to the 

 summit of the Neilgherries ; it will, however, probably be found on 

 some of the other high mountain ranges of Southern India, such as 

 the Pulneys, Animullies, &c. It is very common on the Neilghei^ 

 ries, generally iu parties of five or six, capturing insects in the 

 air, and is often in a state of continual motion, taking short darts 

 and gambols in the air, as much in sport apparently, as in actual 

 pursuit of insects. 



