Ornithology of Gilgit. 445 



82. RuTiciLLA RunvENTRis (Vieill.) . 



This Redstart passes Gilgit on migration^ being common 

 in April and May, on its way northwards, and passing down 

 again late in September. Out of fourteen males procured 

 in spring jio less than six were in the plumage of the female. 



84. RuTiciLLA KRYTHRONOTA (Eversm.). 



This Redstart is a winter visitor to Gilgit, and is common 

 at an elevation of 5000 feet from the middle of October to 

 the first week in March. In eleven males the wings vary in 

 length from 3*4 to 3'6, and in five females from 3*3 to 3'35. 

 The females have two whitish wing-bars formed by the pale 

 tips of the coverts. 



R. alaschanica, Prejevalsky, which is allied to this species 

 by its chestnut back and wing-markings, appears, never- 

 theless, to be quite distinct. R. erythronota, male, has a broad 

 band, comprising the lores, ear-coverts, and sides of neck, 

 black ; while in R. alaschanica these parts are grey, like the 

 head and nape. In R. erythronota the second primary is 

 intermediate in length between the seventh and eighth, but 

 nearer to the seventh ; in R. alaschanica the second primary 

 is equal to the eighth. The females of the two species are 

 probably very similar in colour, but the difference in shape of 

 wing will doubtless help to distinguish them. 



85. RUTICILLA ERYTHROGASTRA (GUldcnst.). 



A winter visitor, and common at an elevation of about 

 5000 feet, from the middle of October to the middle of April. 

 The males in autumn have the head bluish white ; in January 

 and February the cap becomes whiter, and is pure white in 

 the latest-killed April birds. In fifteen males the wings 

 measure from 3-95 to 4*25 inches, and eleven females have 

 the wings 37 to 4-]. 



Major Biddulph mentions a specimen of which the sex is 

 doubtful ; but there should never be any doubt about the sexes 

 in this species, as the young male, even in first plumage, has 

 a large snow-white patch on the wing, which is never seen in 

 the female. 



