1922.] Some Indian \Vlieatc>a)*s. 153 



III. Character's of the female. 



(a) Here too one finds very distinct differences ; in plcata 

 the adnlt has a blackish throat, not tjuite as pure as in the 

 male, but still distinctly black ; capistrata has a fulvous 

 throat. 



(b) In picata the back is very dark, in some almost black, 

 in others blackish brown ; in capistrata it is rather a sandy 

 brown. 



(c) The oar-coverts are as a rule darker in picata than in 

 capistrata. 



{d) In the first winter plumage tho black throat of picata is 

 indicated by a dusky patch varying somewhat in intensity ; 

 the back is not so dark as in the adult, but darker than in 

 capistrata ; however, I confess some first-year females may 

 be difficult to place. 



(<?) As in the males, so in the females, capistrata averages 

 larger. 72 per cent, of picata measure, wing 87-89 mm., 

 and just on 70 per cent, capistrata measure 90 and upwards, 

 and the curves of measurement show exactly the same 

 characteristics as pointed out under the males. 



IV. Geographical considerations. 



There is no possible doubt that picata is the breeding bird 

 of eastern Persia and of Persian and British Baluchistan, and 

 is very common, whereas capistrata appears to be very rare ; 

 I have seen one breeding male from this area against about 

 thirty of picata. In the N.W. Frontier Province both breed 

 according to Whitehead (Ibis, 1909, p. 216-7), capistrata 

 in the Safed Koh, picata in the Samana range, both at 

 about the same altitude apparently. In Gilgit (Scully and 

 Biddulph, Stray Feathers, x. pp. 112 & 266) both breed, 

 as they probably do in Ohitral, though Pcrreau (J. Bombay 

 N. H. Soe. xvi. p. 5U) only definitely states that capistrata 

 breeds and jncata " occurs." From Kashmir I have only seen 

 picata ; in Turkestan capistrata breeds in the neighbourhood 

 of Samarkand, from which country I have not seen any picata. 

 Thus it will be seen that there is a difference in broedincr 

 range indicated, thoui-h it must be remembered that over an 



