286 A CONTRIBUTION TO THK ORNITHOLOGY OF NEPAL. 



paler shade of brown, thus giving an undulated appearance to 

 those parts. 



These four specimens are tj'^pical alhocincta {nivicollis, Hodg- 

 son) ; I did not meet with any examples of castanea. 



The White-collared Ouzel is only found about the Nepal 

 Valley in winter, and even then at high elevations on the hills, 

 never lower than 7,000 feet. I found this Ouzel common in the 

 Sheopuri Forest in February ; it was not social like M. boulboul, 

 being always found single or in pairs. It frequented the moss- 

 covered branches of the trees, or flew up from a bush to the 

 nearest tree on being alarmed. It is rather a noisy bird, audits 

 note, in winter, is harsh, something like that of Planesticua 

 atrigularis when alarmed, but lower and more full. 



365.— Planesticus atrogularis, Tem. 



Five maleSf December, March and April. — Length, 9"7 to 

 lO'i; expanse, 15'1 to 16'8 ; wing, 5"4: to 5*6; tail, 3'9 to 4*1 ; 

 tarsus, 1"25 to 1-3; bill from gape, 1"1 to 1*2; bill at front, 

 0*68 to 0*74; closed wings short of tail, 1'3 to 1'8. 



Might females^ December to April. — Length, 9*2 to 9'75 ; ex- 

 panse, 15"I to 15*9 ; wing, 5 to 5'3 j tail, 3'7 to 4'1; tarsus, 

 1-15 to 1-3 ; bill from gape, 1-05 to M5; bill at front, 0-65 to 

 0*78; closed wings short of tail, 1'3 to 2"0. 



This Thrush, the " Ohachar" of the Nepalese, is a winter 

 visitant to the Nepal Valley, arriving about the end of 

 November and departing at the end of April. It is exceeding- 

 ly common in the valley in winter, frequenting gardens, groves, 

 and woods, and ascending the forests on the hill sides to about 

 6,000 feet. It is often found feeding on grassy slopes, pathways 

 and even ploughed fields, and when alarmed seeks refuge in tlie 

 nearest tree, uttering as it rises a shrill cry. It was tolerably 

 common in the Markhu Valley in December. 



371.— Oreocincla dauma, Lath. 



Male, Valley, October. — Length, iO"6 ; expanse, 17*9; wing, 

 5'73; tail, 4*2; tarsus, 1'3; bill from gape, 1-23; bill at 

 front, 0'85 ; closed wings short of tail, 1"9; weight, 35 ozs. 



Upper mandible black ; the lower dusky at tip, green 

 horny at base ; gape orange ; irides dark brown ; feet buffy 

 yellow. 



This beautiful Thrush is rare in the valley, probably only 

 passing through on its way to and from the plains. The only 

 specimen obtained was shot on the 27th October ; it was feed- 

 ing on a grassy plot, and on being alarmed flew into the near- 

 est tree and perched on one of the lower branches. 



