NOTSS ON BIJiDS OF THE KAGHAN VALLEY. 107 



tal^en, this is interesting in view of Stuart Baker's and Major Magrath's 

 notes on bine eggs of this species, vide Vol. XVIII, p. 261. 

 Oreocincla whiteheadi, sp. n. — The Kaghan Mountain Thrush. 

 Mr. Stuart Baker described this new species at a meeting of the B. O. C. on 

 the 14th May 1913. " Adult, nearest to Oreocincla molissima (Blyth), but diii'ers 

 in having the whole upper plumage olive-grey instead of rich olive brown with 

 a strong rufescent tinge ; underparts also without any of the bright rufous 

 tint, which is ahvays present to a greater or less extent in 0. onolissima, 

 though there is a very slight tinge of ochre on the breast of one of the adult 

 birds ; the whole crown of the head is strongly marked with pale shaft 

 stripes, a character never present in the adult of O. molissima. Bill from 

 gape 28"4 mm., from feather of forehead, 21-6 ; wing 142-5 — 150 ; tail 95'4 — 

 98 : Tarsus 30'4. Younger examples shew the same comparative differences 

 as are shewn in the adults, i. e., they are much less rufous both above and 

 below ; they are also much more strongly striated and have the dark margins 

 of the feathers of the upper parts more conspicuous." 



Mr. Stuart Baker added that Oreocincla molissima and dixoni are in- 

 separable. Their range, viz., Chamba to the Shan States is identical and 

 there is no constant difference between the two. 



(Bulletin of the B.O.C., Vol. XXXI, No. 188, dated 28th May 1913.) 



I found this fine thrush comparatively common in one wild precipitous 

 valley, the home of several other rare species such as the Snow Partridge 

 {Lerwa nivicola). 



It differs from O. molissima which is a forest bird, in inhabiting bare rocky 

 slopes above tree limit between 12,500 and 14,500 feet and in nesting in 

 clefts in cliff's. Its alarm notes are similar to those of Merula maxima (like 

 a policeman's rattle) which occurs on the same ground at a slightly lower 

 level ; also the single call-note. I was too late in the year for the song. 

 One brood just flown I found on 12th July on a snow slope, the parents 

 busily feeding them. Another on the 14th not yet flown in a cliff. Once the 

 young can shift for themselves it becomes very wild and difficult to ap- 

 proach. The broad white bar edged with black under the wing distinguishes 

 this thrush from afar from all other species occurring here. 



The ^ and 5 are very similar in colouring. 



753. Fyrrhospiza punicea liumii. — The Red-breasted Rose-Finch. 



Another scarce species from the same valley where it is common between 

 12,000 and 14,000 feet. Both ^ and $ exactly answer to Sharpe's description of 

 this subspecies which is now generally recognized. It has a cheery Bulbul- 

 like call-note which may be rendered '' are you quite ready.'''' The male 

 constantly sings short snatches of a soft, erratic warbling song. 



The only nest found was being built|on a ledge on a cliff' and not in a bush 

 as described in the " Fauna of B, I. Birds," Like other rose-finches this 

 species feeds a lot on flowers and buds. 



The colour of the soft parts except the bill are not recorded by Oates, they 

 are as follows : — 



Bill light horn brown, loicer mandible whitish. Tarsus black. Iris hazel. 



820. Motacilla personata. — The Masked Wagtail. 



Breeds in small numbers along the river from 3,000 to 9,000 feet. A nest 

 found at 8,800 was built on an island in a torrent under a bush, and con- 

 tained 5 eggs of the usual type, 



I looked out carefully for M. hodgsoni but did not see a single bird, 



838. Motacilla citreoloides. — Hodgson's Yellow-headed Wagtail. 



Abounds from Narang (7,700 ft. ) upwards and breeds freely ; the male 

 generally in mature plumage and the female in one of 2 plumages, viz., 

 (1) above grey with scattered black feathers ; supercilium and below yellowish 

 white, (2) above dark grey with some black feathers ; forehead, supercilium 



