A CONTRIBUTION TO THE ORNITHOLOGY OF NEPAL. 271 



These specimens belong to typical longicaudata, and do not 

 at all approach pyrrhops. Setting aside all other differences, 

 this species may be distinguished at a glance from atra 

 {albiricta, Hodgs.) by its much more feeble feet; the tarsi 

 and toes are shorter and markedly more slender j the claws much 

 smaller, and the hind claw decidedly more curved. 



Three young females, July and August. — Length, 9*0 to 10; 

 expanse, 15 to 15'5 ; wing, 4-7 to 5; tail, 3-8 to 4'2 ; tarsus, 

 0- 65 to 07 ; bill from gape, i'O ; bill at front, 08 to 0-83 ; closed 

 wings short of tail, 1*2 to 20. 



Bill black, grey horny at extreme tip ; gape pale yellow fleshy ; 

 irides blackish to blood red j feet dusky ; claws black. 



Male^ Sheopuri Ridge, 20th May. — Length, 11*5 ; wing, 5 5; 

 outer tail feathers, 6'35 ; middle tail feathers, 3'73; tarsus, 07. 



This example differs from all the others by having more gloss 

 on the breast, by its slender form, and by the smaller feet — the 

 tarsi being more slender and the hind claw markedly smaller ; 

 in other respects it closely resembles Zow^ecaw^/ate and not pyrrhops. 

 It may possibly fall under B. himalayana, Tytler. 



The Long-tailed Drongo is a migratory species in the Nepal 

 Valley, arriving about the middle of March and retiring to lower 

 and warmer regions towards the end of September ; the earliest 

 date on which it was observed in the valley was on the 10th 

 March. It frequents the central woods, perching high up on 

 the trees, and never descends to the ground. It is especially 

 active towards dusk, when the bats begin hunting ; obviously, 

 I think, because their food is, generally speaking, the same, and 

 that many insects are then flying about. This species lays in the 

 valley in May and June, the nest being placed high up in trees, 

 often in Finus longifolia. The eggs are usually four in number, 

 fairly glossy, in shape moderate ovals, smaller at one end. The 

 ground colour is pinkish white, with a tinge of bufi^, sparingly 

 spotted and blotched tvith brownish red, chiefly at the large 

 end, where the marks tend to coalesce, so as to form an irregular 

 incomplete ring. Four eggs taken on the 28th May measured, 

 1-09 to 1-12 in length, and 0-75 to 0-76 in breadth. The race 

 which I identify with himalayana was found, in very small 

 numbers, on the summit of Sheopuri, at an elevation of about 

 7,500 feet, and was breeding at the time I shot ray specimen, 

 viz., the 20th May. 



281.~Buchanga ccerulescens, Lin. 



Male — Hetoura, December. — Length, 10'5 ; expanse, 16*5; 

 wing, 5*4 ; tail, 5*35 ; tarsus, 0*75 ; bill from gape, I'l ; bill at 

 front, 0*75 ; closed wings short of tail, 2'5. 



Bill; feet and claws black ; irides fine red. 



35 



