A CONTRIBUTION TO THE ORNITHOLOGY OF NEPAL. 301 



at front, 0'4; closed wings sbort of tail, I'O. This specimen 

 is spotted and streaked above and on the breast. 



1 have followed Mr. Hume (cf. S. F., V., pp. 442—244) in t 

 euterino^the above twenty-four specimens under P. indioa, but I . ' 

 am not sure that they all belong to one species. There are two 

 distinct forms amongst my birds: one, a small dark race, 

 which is a permanent resident in the valley and breeds there ; 

 the other a larger race with the lower surface rufous through- 

 out, which only comes into the valley in winter. Six specimens 

 of the latter race, obtained from November to March, have 

 the following dimensions : — Four males, wing, 2-85 to 3-0 ; and 

 bill from gape, 07 to 073; two females, wing, 29 to 2'95 ; 

 and bill from gape, 07. It is clear that the two forms 

 cannot be separated on the ground of size alone, for I find 

 a regular gradation from birda with a wing 2*45 to those 

 with a wing measuring 3-0; but perhaps the large form 

 might be separated from indica on account of its colours, 

 migratory habits, and generally larger size. Without an 

 examination of the type it seems impossible to say whether 

 it is identical with the race described as P. robusta, Tristram, 

 or not. 



There is yet another point to be noted about my Pratincolas. 

 It has lately often been pointed out that ruhicola differs from 

 indica in having the upper tail-coverts and lower part of the 

 rump with the feathers dark centred, whereas indica never has 

 those parts striated. Now in six of my specimens the upper 

 tail-coverts are longitudinally striated, though faintly ; and in 

 one of these, a female, shot on the 12th December, the lower 

 rump and upper tail-coverts are centred with duskj^ alono- the 

 shafts of the feathers, thus making a decided approach to some 

 specimens of the same sex from London. Even in this specimen, 

 however, the streaks are neither as dark nor nearly as strongly 

 marked as in the European examples. 



The Indian Bush Chat is a very common bird and a perma- 

 nent resident in the valley of Nepal; audit is abundant, in 

 winter, the whole way from the valley to the plains, and in the 

 Nawakot district. Two nests of this species were found in 

 the valley in June, placed on the ground and well sheltered by 

 grass and wormwood bushes. 



486.— Pratincola ferrea, Hodgs. 



Three males.— Length, 575 to 5-8 ; expanse, 8-5 to 8-8 ; 

 wing, 27 to 2-^; tail, 2-6 to 2-8; tarsus, O'S to 0-85 ; bill 

 from gape, 0-62 to 068; bill at front, 0-38 to 0-43; closed 

 wings short of tail, 1-6 to 1-65. 



