NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF UPPER ASSAM. 2o7 



months. Margherita, 5-4-03, d" ; Rungagora, Dejoo, 27-3-05, (S , 31-3-07, 

 c?, May, July. 



To be met with in parties to the extent of a dozen or thereabouts in 

 late March and April at the foot of the North Lakhmipur hills. 



159. Hypothymis azurea styani ( Hartl. ) [601 part\. — Styan's Black-naped 



Flycatcher. 



Hypothymis azurea, Gates, F.B.I., Vol. ii, p. 49. 

 Plentiful at the base of the hills. North Lakhimpur ; Dejoo, 2-4-03, c5 , 

 24-3-10*, 25-3-07*; numerous records, April, May, June, August ; Rungagora, 

 29-3-03, 5 . 



Dejoo, 8-0-08, several in some nurseries, most probably an adult pair 

 with this year's brood. No records for the cold season months, which points 

 to this flycatcher arriving preparatory or at the advent of the monsoon. 



160. Chelidorhynx hypo.vantha (Blyth) [603]. — The Yellow-bellied 



Flycatcher. 



Chelidorhynx hypoxantha — Gates, F. B. I.^ Vol. ii, p. 51. 

 Descends the gorges to the base of the hills and extends into the plains 

 during the cold season as far as the Dibru R. at all events. Rungagora, 

 January, February; Gogaldhubie and Hessamara, December ; Derpai and 

 Poobamukh, Subansiri Gorge, January ; Dejoo, December, January ; Panch- 

 noi R. low elevations, Daphla hills, November ; Beni, Abor-Miri hills, Feb- 

 ruary ; Harmutty, November. Frequents the tops of the trees in some 

 numbers in February in company with various Pkylloscopi, Beni, 1906. 

 Gates states the sexes are alike ; males can be distinguished at a glance. 

 The lores, feathers round the eye, cheeks and ear coverts are considerably 

 darker in the male, whilst the band on the forehead is also a deeper yellow 

 tint in this sex. 



161. Rhipidura albicollis ( Vieill. ) [ 605 ]. — The White-throated Fantail 



Flycatcher. 

 Plentifully distributed throughout the whole area. 



162. Saxicola torquata stejneyeri (Parrot) [610].- — Stejneger's Bush-Chat. 



Pratineola maura, Gates, F.B.I. , Vol. ii., p. 61. 



All the Bush-Chats in my collection belong to this eastern form though 

 'S'. t. przewalsMi,'P\Q&\ie, is sl\&o recorded from Assam. Gccurs throughout 

 the whole tract of country during the cold season, confined to grass lands 

 and open cultivated places. The August dates noted at the foot of the 

 North Lakhimpur hills point to the close proximity of its breeding haunts. 

 Dejoo, 20-8-07*, abnormal atmospheric conditions, very dry August ; 

 27-8-10, c? Im.*; 30-8-10, 5 *; 29-8-08, S Im. or ? *; next occurrence :— 

 11-9-08*; 30-8-10, $ *, Silonibari, 31-8-11, c? & $* in diftereut localities ; 

 Komolabari, 7-9-04, S , many collected during the early days this month ; 

 Dejoo, numbers in evidence after rain, 10-10-10 ; Hessamara, 11-4-05, S 

 Rungagora, 16-4-03, c? ; Silonibari, 18 & 19-4-11*, wet morning ; three or 

 four in a patch of grass land ; Bipuria, 10-4-11*; Dejoo, 25-4-10.* 



Gther localities — Margherita, Nudwa, Dibrugarh. Failed to meet with 

 'S'. caprata, evidence required as to this Chat's status in Upper Assam if it 

 really does occur. 



163. Saxicola leucura (Blyth) [611]. — The White-tailed Bush-Chat. 



Pratineola leucura, Gates, F.B.I., Vol. ii., p. 63. 

 Confined to the grass lands more than ^S". t. torquata, both species may be 

 found together, although S. leucura keeps to the outer limits of these haunts. 

 Gn the north bank of the Bramapootra noted at the following localities and 

 on these dates : — ^Hessamara, December, January, 12-4-05, S ; Bipuria, 

 10-4-11*; Pathalipam, 12-1-06, c5' *; Derpai, 14-1-06, S ; Subansiri R. ; 

 Boduti, 23-3-09 S*- 



