54 Major J. Biddulph on the Birds of Gilgit. 



up the main valley. A pair were shot in Gilgit in the severe 

 winter of 1877-78. 



70. Trochalopteron ltneatum (Vig.) . 



Common at all times. In summer goes up to about 9000 

 feet. 



71. Oriolus kundoo^ Sykes. 



A summer visitant, and common. Appears about 1st May. 

 Nest with three eggs hard-set, taken 8th June ; several other 

 nests taken later on. 



72. Pratincola indica^ Blytli. 



A summer visitor, but breeds higher up than Gilgit, where 

 it is only common in spring and autumn. 



[Herren Cabanis and SevertzofF pointed out (S. F. iii. 

 429) the distinction between this species and P. rubicola, in 

 that "P. ruhicola has always blackish markings along the 

 feather-shafts of the white rump, P. indica never.''^ Sub- 

 sequently Mr. Hume improved on this definition by stating 

 that " the upjje?' tail-coverts and lower part of the rump in 

 indica are never striated." 



According to Mr. Hume^s definition, two of the Stonechats 

 obtained would be P. rubicola, but according to Herr Severt- 

 zoff only one; for one has the rump and upper tail-coverts 

 distinctly striated, the other has the upper tail-coverts 

 striated but no trace of dark centrings on the rump*. 



The two birds belong to the same species ; and Mr. Hume^s 

 diagnosis appears to be the more strictly accurate of the two ; 

 but as both the specimens are females, and as no male ap- 

 proaching the P. rubicola type was found among the numerous 

 specimens preserved, I hesitate, on the strength of these 

 two, to include P, rubicola among the birds of Gilgit. 



All the males show a small amount of white at the base of 

 the tail, about a quarter of an inch in some ; but none have 

 white on the outer tail-feathers as in P. hemjjrichi. 



They are distinguished from P. macrorhyncha by having 



* [A similar coloration lias been noticed in some Chats procured in 

 Nepal (S.F. 1879, p. 301).— J. S.] 



