ADELURA. 69 



The eggs of this species are broad ovals, much compressed and 

 pointed towards the small end, and at times somewhat pointed 

 even towards the large end. They are wliite with a delicate green 

 tinge, and towards the large end exhibit a faint zone of the most 

 minute reddish-brown specks conceivable. The shell is very 

 smooth and compact, has ah^ays a certain amount of gloss, wliich 

 in some cases is very bright and decided. In length they vary 

 from 0*()y to 0-74, and in breadth from 0'54 to 0-58 ; but the 

 average of twelve is 0'71 by 0-56. 



657. Adelura cseruleicephala (Vigors). The Blue-headed 

 Wood-Chat. 



Ruticilla cseruleocephala ( Vig.), Jerd. B. lad. ii, p. 141 ; Hume, 

 Romjh Draft N. ii,- E. no. 504. 



This species, which is very common about Simla in the winter, 

 making its appearance there with R. frontalis about the middle of 

 November, retreats, like this latter bird, during March to higher 

 regions, where it may be found throughout the summer at elevations 

 of from 10,000 to 13,000 feet, amongst other localities in the snow- 

 capped hills that bound Spiti on the south and west, and divide it 

 from the valleys of the Sutlej and the Beas. 



The only nest we ever got was placed in a cleft of a rock on the 

 path leading up the Humpta Pass immediately above Juggutsook, 

 at an elevation (as nearly as might be guessed with reference to 

 that of Juggutsook and the top of the pass) of only 1 1 ,000 feet. 

 It was a triangular-shaped pad, accommodated to the shape of the 

 crevice, some 4 inches each way, composed chiefly of moss, but 

 with some grass and fir-needles intermingled, and with a shallow 

 central depression lined thinly with soft gi'ey fur-hairs, probably 

 of hares : this was on the 16th April. The nest contained one 

 single fresh egg, a very regular and perfect oval. In colour a 

 uniform pale delicate blue, fairly glossy, and measuring 0'b3 by 

 0'(32. The mouth of the crevice, widch was about 9 inches deep, 

 was partly curtained by delicate drooping herbage, and we should 

 never have noticed it if the two parents had not suddenly darted 

 out of it when we were actually abreast of it. Unfortunately we 

 shot neither, but I have no earthly doubt myself of what they were. 

 I may add that a second egg said to belong to this species, and 

 to have been taken on some of the hills overlooking and north of 

 the Wangtoo Bridge, has since been sent me. It is precisely 

 similar, but measures 0'S5 by 0"63. 



It is just possible that we have made some mistake about the 

 eggs of this species, for Major IVardlaw'- Bamsay gives a Aery 

 different description of them. Writing from Afghanistan he says: 

 "It breeds in May and June. On the 22nd of May I found a 

 nest in a crevice in the face of a precipitous cliff in a deep 

 mountain-gorge. It was composed of small twigs and dried grass, 

 thickly lined with camels' hair. I shot the female as she left the 



