90 



This species is found at high elevations on the Himalayas 

 in summer, Stoliczka recording it from about 20,000 feet above 

 the sea. In winter it descends to below 3000 feet, or probably to 

 the plains at the foot of the hills. 



This Eedstart extends to China. 



Habits, fyc. Frequents the banks of rivers and nullahs, feeding 

 at the edge of the water on insects, and constantly moving its tail 

 up and down and expanding the feathers. Breeds in May, con- 

 structing a cup-shaped nest of green moss and fibres, lined with 

 hair, in the hollow of a bank on the side of a stream. The eggs 

 are greenish white covered with rufous spots. 



Genus RUTICILLA, Brehm, 1828. 



The genus Ruticilla contains the true Redstarts, which may be 

 recognized by their rather long tail, which is more than twice the 

 length of the tarsus and nearly or quite square at the tip ; by the 

 large amount of chestnut in the tail ; and by the sexes being dif- 

 ferently coloured. The bill is short, slender, and black, and the 

 rictal bristles moderate or short. The wing is sharply pointed, and 

 the first primary less than half the second. The tarsus is of 

 moderate length. 



The Redstarts feed on the ground largely, but they also catch 

 insects on the wing and perch freely. They constantly vibrate 

 their tail. Nearly all the species migrate to a greater^ or less 

 extent, and those that inhabit the Himalayas move vertically 

 according to season. They breed in holes of trees and rocks, and 

 lay unspotted blue eggs. 



The nestlings of the Eedstarts are streaked with fulvous above 

 and have the feathers margined with brown below. In each 

 species the nestling has the same pattern of tail as the adult, render- 

 ing specific recognition comparatively easy. 



The seasonal change of plumage in the Eedstarts, due to the 

 wearing away of the edges of the feathers in the winter and spring, 

 is very great. 



Key to the Species*. 



. All tail-feathers except the middle pair 



abruptly tipped with black R. frontalis, p. 91. 



b. None of the tail-feathers tipped. 



a'. A large white patch on throat J?. schisticeps, p. 92. 



* The following species are reported to have occurred in India, but either by 

 error or on insufficient evidence : 



R. PHCENICURA (Linn.). Two skins of this species now in the British Museum, 

 originally deposited in the Indian Museum, as noticed by Horsfield and Moore 

 (Oat. i, p. 301), are said to have been procured at Saharanpur by Dr. Jameson. 

 The two specimens in question, which ha\ e been at one time stuffed and mounted, 

 are typical B. jjhoenicura. The occurrence of this species in India requires con- 

 firmation. It resembles E. rufiventris, but has the anterior part of the crown 



