t 495a 
prevailing colour, portions of black present themselves and white 
stand out conspicuously. White-capped Redstart is seldom seen far 
from the water’s edge. The same could be said of most birds be- 
longing to this sub-family, nest and eggs are typical of Luticilline. 
Eggs have a light greenish tinge covered with faint reddish brown 
spots and streaks, much the same in appearance as Plumbeous 
Water-Robin’s eggs only bigger in size and in shape an elongated 
oval. 
Water-Robin’s eggs are much rounder. In nest construction 
these two species use similar materials. Nest is composed of green 
moss, roots and fibres, lined inside with a quantity of black hair- 
like moss and other roots, wool of hill sheep and yak, when the 
nest is found below Sandakphu and a like altitude. These nests 
are ditticult to find, as they are generally placed in such in-get-at-able 
places, usually most artfully hidden away in mossy seclusions in 
precipitous places, near roaring torrents and jhoras. 
(507) LARVIVORA CYANA, Blue JV ood-chat, is another of our 
familiar Darjeeling birds ; but not so fre equently seen as the last two 
species. This bird leaves us in winter for the plains. I have how- 
ever met a few stray Larvivora, which have remained behind to 
brave our cold. inclement weather. This wood-chat is about 6 
inches in size. Plumag ge is dusky indigo blue, above, with a white 
streak over the eyes, about sides of the head Wack ; beneath bright 
rufous ; under tail coverts are white ; thigh coverts with cross-lines 
of blue and white. The female is browner in colour. When met 
with Cyana is oftener seen on the ground, picking up insects. Oc- 
casionally they are found on the bushes ; but unlike flycatchers they 
seldom return to the same perch on securing an insect on the wing. 
When observed amongst the branches, they are not shy, and 
dou’t seem to be averse to a little, attention being paid them. They 
are partial to short scrub jungle, not infrequently beside damp and 
thick undergrowth, or beside rills of water in more secluded parts 
of a jhora. 
(508) IANTHIA CYANURA, /Vhite-breasted Blue Wood-chat, is per- 
haps more numerous than Larvivora. This pretty little bird inhabits 
north Sikkim and Singalillas, where I saw them quite at home, in 
spring. They visit Darjeeling about the beginning of November, 
when cold bleak winds have started on higher altitudes. In size 
Cyanwra is 5y inches ; plumage below is white; breast brownish ; 
above, it is prussian-blue, with ultramarine on the forehead and 
over the eyes ; shoulders (wing) and lower back (rump) also. ultra- 
marine ; below, the flanks are bright ferruginous. The female is 
pale brown, tinged with blue on shoulders and supercilium ; tail, 
