472 ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS IN SIKHIM, 



as it conceals itself so quickly, and does not leave its grass busb 

 till almost trodden upon. It is not uncommon near Sukhur. 



448.— Hemixus flavala, Hodgs. 



Near Punkabaree. 



451.— Criniger flaveolus, Gould. 



Near Punkabaree. 



456.— Rubigula flaviventris, Ticl. 



At the same place. 



458.— Otocompsa leucogenys, J. E. Gr. 



At Punkabaree. 



459.— Otocompsa leucotis, Gould, 



Sukhur in Sind. 



460.— Otocompsa emeria, Lin. 



Punkabaree. 



466.— Phyllornis hardwickii, Jard and Selb. 



Punkabaree. 



468 — lora tiphia, Lin. 



Sikhim Terai. 



474.— Oriolus trailli, Vig. 



Darjeeling. 



483 &»s.— Pratincola robustus, Tristram. 



All the Sikhim Terai Stonechats were of this species. I 

 shot a number, and even the females are large fine birds and 

 most conspicuously distinct from the little indicus. 1 obtained 

 a very fine male at Saharunpore in the North- West Provinces, 

 and close to it I obtained indicus. 



P. robustus is even a more rufous bird than ruhicola and larger 

 as a rule. There is no doubt whatever that we have two allied 

 Stonechats. I have a series of 38 collected from Howrah to Sind, 

 and also in the Sikhim Terai, and in Sikhim. The larg'e bird fre- 

 quents the plains near the hills, and especially haunts ground 

 rather marshy, where there is an abundance of long dry grass. 

 This bird measures about 5*5 in length, and has a wing from 

 2*75 to 3*0. I have a female with a wing 2'9. The tails measure 

 about 2-2 as a rule. The long broad tail at once strikes an 

 observer as he sees the bird sitting on a tall grass stem. The 

 female is very dark toned and rufous, and the autumnal rufous 



