TARSIGER. 



. The Himalayas, from the N. W. to Sikkim. Said to be common in 

 China and Central and Northern Asia, also Japan. It is recorded from Nepaul 

 and Cashmere, and from between Mussoorie and Gangaotri. Jerdon say^ it 

 is a winter visitant at Darjceling* It frequents thick brushwood and long grass. 

 Found on the banks of the Ganges at Caragola Ghat. In Cashmere, according 

 to Brooks, it is more numerous in the upper part of the valley. Its call-note 

 and manners, he says, are like those of a robin. It is a very shy bird. It 

 breeds very high up in the hills north of Simla, but in Cashmere they 

 are said to breed as low as 6,<ooo feet during June and July, nesting 

 in holes of banks. The normal number of eggs is 4, of a bluish white 

 colour, faintly marked towards the larger end with pale reddish brown. 

 Size 074 x 0-56. 



224. Tarsiger hyperythrus, Biyth, J. A. S. B. xvi. p. 132 ; ,d. 



Cat. B. Mus. A. S. B. p. 170; Jerd. B. Lid. ii. p. 147, No. 509; Sharpe, 

 Cat, B. Br. Mtts. iv, p. 257 ; Godw.-Austen, J. A. S. B. 1870, p. 106. 

 Nemurahyperythra, Gray, Gen. B. iii. App. p. 8 ; Bp. Consp. I, p. 300. The 

 RUSTY-THROATED BLUE WOOD-CKAT. 



Adult Mak. Above dark purplish -or mdigobhre;; the forehead brighter 

 and more cobalt blue, extending backward over the fore part of the eye ; no 

 white eyebroiv^ shoulder patch deep cobalt; rest of wing coverts and quills 

 dusky blackish, externally edged with purplish blue ; lores, ear coverts, sides 

 of the face, feathers round the eye and sides of the throat deep purplish 

 black ; entire under surface of body chestnut rufous ; thighs brown ; lower 

 flanks whitish, forming a tuft on each side of the back^ axiHaries and under 

 Aving coverts yellowish buff ; bill dusky; legs brown. 



Length. 4-8 to $'$ inches ; wing 3^5 ; tail 2'3 ; tarsus i ^ culmen o*45- 



The female is brown above, the lower back and rurnp greyish, the upper 

 tail coverts and tail blue; median and greater wing coverts brown like the back ; 

 quills dark brown, edged lighter ; a faint greyish bke eye streak on the side of 

 the crown ; ring round the eye fulvous ; ear coverts, sides of face and under 

 surface of body mfescertt brown ; middle ef abdomen and under tail coverts 

 whitish ; under wing coverts and axillaries yellowish buff. 



Length. 5 inches; wing 2-95 ; tail 2'2 ; tarsus i ; culmen 0-4. 



7/a. The Eastern Himalayas and Khasia Hills. Recorded from Nepaul 

 and Darjeeling. 



This is a rare species, and supposed to be a migrant. Nothing is known of 

 dts nidifica-tion. 



225. Tarsiger hodgsoni, Moore, P. Z. S. 1854, p. 76, P i. 6?. 



Nitidula campbelli, Jcrd. and Blyth,P. Z. S. 186i, p. 201. Nilidula 1. 

 :soni, Jerd.B. Ind. i, p. 472, No. 313. Niltava hodgsoni, G'w, /A/.4. #, i. 

 p. 327, The PIGMY BLUE ELY-CATC 



