NOTES. 131 



This is what ho said of it : — 



u 1 have long had in my possession, from Mysore, a giant 

 Stonechat in summer plumage, very brightly coloured, which 

 had often puzzled me. I lately received from my friend 

 Mr. Brooks a specimen of the same bird in winter plumage, 

 given him by Mr. Jerdon, who procured it in the Sutlej valley. 

 I have had the pleasure of introducing Mr. Jerdon to his old 

 friend, which he at once recognized ; and it was evident the 

 two specimens belonged to the same species, hitherto undescribed 

 I propose to name it. 



Pratincola robusta, Sp< n. 



P. maxima, coloribus P. pastori simillima, sed intension?) us ; 

 pectore intense rufo, abdomine rufo nee alb i do ; striga nuchali 

 angusta. 



Long. tot. 595, alae 3, caudae 2*45 poll. 



It is thus very much larger* than any known species of 

 Pratincola. It may be further discriminated from P. pastor 

 and P. sibylla by the intensity of its rufous breast extending 

 down to the abdomen without any white ; and also from these 

 and from P. nibicola by the very narrow white spot on each 

 side of the neck instead of the bold white patch, while in the 

 breeding plumage, the black of the head and back is most 

 intense. I am very fortunate to have the decided authority 

 of Mr. Jerdon for describing this most interesting bird as new. 

 Its size is the more remarkable when contrasted with the small 

 P. indica. 



In 1872, (J. A. S. B., XLL, 238) Dr. Stoliczka described a 

 presumed new Stonechat, which he obtained in Cutch under the 

 name of P. macrorhyncha. 



His remarks on and description of the species will be found 

 quoted, S. F. IV., 40, n. 



It will be observed, that Dr. Stoliczka's specimens were not 

 sexed, and that he only presumed them to be females. 



At the time and for long after, relying solely on descrip- 

 tions and having no specimens to compare, I was disposed 

 to unite this supposed new species with P. Hemprichii, but 

 after once examining specimens of this latter I discovered 

 at once my error, macrorhyncha being a much larger bird. 



One of the types of macrorhyncha was presented to my 

 museum by Dr. Stoliczka, and recently in going through a collec- 

 tion of birds, presented by Capt Butler, H. M. 83rd, I at once 

 recognized a female Stonechat labelled rubicola, as belon£incr to 

 the same species. 



* This of course is a mistake, as poiuted out by Messrs, Marshall, S.F., III., 330 ; 

 P. iusii/iiis, Hodgson, is considerably larger. — Ed., S. F. 



