THE BIRDS OF KOHAT AND THE KURRAM VALLEY. 779 



A common cold-weather visitor to the desert parts of the District from 

 August till April. 



[626.] Saxicola deserti. The Desert Wheatear. 



Marshall, J. B. N. H. S. xiv. p. 603, & xv. p. 355 (Quetta : found a nest 

 with young in a bank) ; dimming, op. cit. xvi. p. 688 (one shot in January) ; 

 Ward, op. cit. xvii. p. 481, & xviii. p. 462 (occurs in Kashmir in spring and 

 in Ladak in summer). 



618. $ ad. Kohat, 1,760 ft., 28th February. 



Fairly common from November till the third week in March, but not such 

 an exclusive haunter of the desert as some of its allies, being frequently 

 met with about cultivated lands. 



[628.] Saxicola chrysopygia. The Red-tailed Chat. 



Watson, J. B. N. H. S. xv. p. 145 (shot in September near Chaman) ; 

 Perreau, op. cit. xviii. p. 186 (Chitral). 



Common in the cold weather from September to mid-April about low 

 stony hills. 



[638.] Chimarrhornis leucocephaltjs. The Whitecapped Redstart. 



Rattray, J. B. N. H. S. xii. p. 340 (January) ; Fulton, op. cit. xvi. p. 744 

 (rather rare) ; Ward, op. cit. xvii. p. 481 (common in Kashmir). 



Occurs in the Miranzai Valley from Raisan upwards from October to the 

 middle of April, but is somewhat rare. Abundant, however, in summer 

 along the torrents of the Safed Koh up to tree-limit. 



[642.] Ruticilla erythronota. Eversman's Redstart. 



Marshall, J. B. N. H. S. xii. p. 603 (common in winter) ; Ward, op. cit. 

 xvii. p. 481 (occurs in spring). 



51. § ad. Raisan, 2,360 ft., 25th December. 



100. <$ ad. Kohat, 1,760 ft., 4th February. 



Fairly common, especially in the Miranzai Valley, from December till 

 March, and on the Samana from October till the end of March, chiefly 

 frequenting scrub-jungle, olive-groves, and avenues. The call is a peculiarly 

 croaking note sounding like gre-er. The male assumes nearly full breeding- 

 plumage before leaving. Not observed in the Kurram Valley. 



[644.] Ruticilla rufiventris. The Indian Redstart. 



Marshall, J. B. N. H. S. xiv. pp. 603, 606 (a common resident up to 

 11,000 ft. in summer) ; Fulton, op. cit. xvi. p. 51 (common from 9,000 to 

 14,000 ft. in July) ; Ward, op. cit. xvii. p. 481 (nests in Ladak). 



A winter visitor, abundant from September to mid-April, but only occur- 

 ring on the Samana on passage. A few pairs nest on the Safed Koh above 

 10,000 feet. The nest is usually well concealed under a stone or sometimes 

 in a hollow in a bank, and is made of bents and grass lined with hair. The 

 eggs are very pale blue without markings, and vary much in size. The full 

 clutch appears to be five. 



[646.] Rhyacornis fuliginosxjs. The Plumbeous Redstart. 



