its 
of the allied families. Even whilst at work on round smooth cob- 
bles on bed of the stream, tails of these Water-Robins are seldom at 
rest. In the middle of the day when tired-out, they are often seen 
resting their little legs by lying on their “tummies,” looking the 
picture of contentedness and bliss, with their beaks hardly a foot 
above the splashing currents. Their whistle is a cheerful chirrup, 
uttered at intervals whilst at rest, long whistles of many notes are 
given vent to when they are either startled or flying up stream, at a 
signal from the male, the hen usually follows a few yards behind. 
Water-Robins live chiefly on aquatic insects and larve, washed up 
by the rippling stream. I have frequently seen these birds on our 
road leading up to the house, feeding on insects and when disturbed 
they perch on bushes at the side. This is usually when food is 
scarce in the Jhoras. 
(506) CH&MORRORNIS LEUCOCEPHALA, /Vhite-capped Red-start, 
is another bird which shares our winters with us. This species is 
known to ascend as far as Tongloo and Sandakphu to breed near 
water courses, at high altitudes, where they are frequently seen in 
spring ; but the pair which is located in Kagjhora, and is seen in 
company with Water-Robin, likes the locality so well, that it 
remains with us, throughout the cold weather. It breeds in a hol- 
low above the precipitous rocks below the bridge (railway) to the 
south (left), where neither two legged mortals nor smaller mammals 
(weasel family and some of the reptiles) which go for birds’ eggs 
would dare attempt to venture, for a sure and certain drop of two 
hundred feet below. For a few months, in August and September, 
this Redstart leaves us for a jaunt in the plains. Most of its con- 
geners spend the cold weather in the plains. I saw numbers of 
them at Sivoke in November. Indians call this species Dhobi 
Churra, or Dhobim, owing to its love for the water side, the conspi- 
cuous white crest, which these people think, is an admirable like- 
ness to a washerman’s bundle of clothes on his head. Lepcha name 
of this species is muati-tap-pho very applicable name. This Red- 
start with its handsome head adornment is a fine looking bird. 
Sexes are alike in colour, you will be pleased to note. They are 
most striking in appearance, more erect and dignified in bearing 
than Ruticilla. Their wings are rounded, also tail feathers partially. 
This bird jerks up its tail ina manner typical of this family. In 
size it is 72 inches. Plumage is deep, rich, chesnut on upper and 
lower tail coverts, lower back, abdomen and the greater portion of 
tail feathers ; head and nape are spotlessly white, in the form of a 
full crest or rather cap; frontal, head band is black ; sides of the 
head (lores and ear-coverts) neck and breast are black > wings and 
tip of the tail are fairly deep black. Though bright chesnut is the 
