56 THE BIRDS OF A DROUGHT. 



I have pointed out (S. F., V., 239,) how this species differs 

 from the European rubetra, and I have very fully described the 

 adults, (S. F., V., 140). I may add the following dimen- 

 sions recorded in the flesh of five (as they proved on dissection) 

 females, two in the rubetraoides and three in the macrorhyncha 



plumage: — ■ 



Date. Length. Expanse. Tail. Wing. Tarsus. B. fr. gape. 

 $ , rubetraoides plu. .. 

 ?, Do. do. . 



?, macrorhyncha, plu. 

 ?, Do. do. . 



?, Do. do. .. 



Bills black to brownish black ; legs, feet and claws black. 



I said (V., 241) that I had no idea what the breeding plum- 

 age might be like, and that the birds must breed in Central 

 Asia. I may now mention that two or three of both my males 

 and females have the lower parts of the lores, cheeks, ear-coverts 

 and entire sides of the throat (leaving only a narrow pure white 

 stripe down the centre of the throat) black, the feathers only 

 a little tipped with pale sandy, which doubtless in the breeding 

 season entirely disappears ; also that the lesser and median 

 and the secondary greater wing-coverts and the winglet have 

 become nearly black, only very narrowly edged with sandy 

 buff, which colour also seems in the course of disappearing. 



Also I may say that I am now by no means sure from fur- 

 ther enquiries that this is a migratory species. One would 

 naturally suppose it to be so, but natives (who are, however, 

 not to be relied on in regard to any small birds) assured me 

 that they breed in Jodhpoor during the scanty rainy season 

 (only about 4 to 6 inches rainfall) that they have there. 



The young are fully described, S. F., 40 n, and 1 have 

 already (V., 241) clearly pointed out the differences between 

 these and what I now believe to be the adults. 



I say, now believe, because I must go by my own specimens, 

 but I may mention that a year ago my frieDcl Mr. Blanford 

 told me that he believed macrorhyncha was only the female 

 of rubetraoides, and prima facie looking to the differences, that 

 exist in the two sexes of other species, this would be most pro- 

 bable. 



In habits this species does not differ from P. indica. I found 

 it always perched on some exposed spray, at or near the top 

 of some stunted, thorny bush. I found nothing but insects 

 recognizable in the stomachs of those I examined, though in 

 several there was nearly digested matter that might have been 

 the pulp of seeds. I never heard it sing or attempt to sing, but 

 it has a little sharp chip chip note, which I now and then 

 caught. 



