20 Col. R. Meinertzliagen on Birds from [Ibis, 



SAXICOLA TORQUATA. 

 It may be useful to review briefly the various geo- 

 graphical races of the Stonechat. 



Saxicola torquata leucura. 



Pratincola leucura Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xvi. 1847 : 

 Sind. 



Seven examples examined. 



This race is the palest of the group. 



Male. Nearest to manra, but in fresh autumn plumage 

 with broader and paler edgings to the feathers of the wings 

 and upper parts. Upper tail-coverts unspotted white with a 

 few yellowish margins on the feathers. Tail wuth even more 

 white than in maura, the outer rectrices being white with 

 merely brown tips. Axillaries black with broad white 

 edgings. On the lower parts the chestnut of the breast is 

 paler than in any other race except stejnegeri, and is con- 

 fined to the upper half. Abdomen white. The border line 

 between the chestnut and black on the breast is occasionally 

 intermixed with a few white feathers, and the white patches 

 on the sides of the neck come well forward on the breast. 



Female. Upper parts brownish grey and not reddish 

 brown, therein differing from all other forms. Under parts 

 paler than in any other form, throat white, remainder of 

 under parts only slightly tinged with pale chestnut. 

 Wing of males 66-70, culmen 14 mm. 

 Occurs in winter in Assam, Burma, Tenasserim, and 

 throughout the north-eastern portion of the Indian Peninsula. 

 It is a straggler to Sind. 



Through the kindness of Mr. S. L. Whymper I have 

 obtained the following information about the breeding range 

 of this race : — They do not breed in the Himalaya proper 

 but in the Kumaon Terai and Bhaber, and have not been 

 observed breeding in either the hills or plains of India. 



Saxicola torquata indica. 



Pratincola indica Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xvi. 1847, 

 p. 129 : India. 



