NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF UPPER ASSAM. 259 



Confined to the hill rivers around the head of the valley. In Xorth 

 Lakhimpur in the cold season occasionally may be found some distance 

 away in the plains. In April 1903, I noted several about the deep pools of 

 stagnant water along the Komolabari road, wet weather at this time. In 

 April 1904 none were to be noted in the beds of either the Dejoo or Runga- 

 nuddie and must have gone farther back. Two specimens secured, 12th, 

 13th March 1906, were in process of moult, in one minus the tail, in the 

 other the crest feathers wanting. 



172. C/iaimarrornis fuliffinosa fidiginosa (Vig.) (646). — The Plumbeous 



Redstart. 



Rhyacornis fulginosus, Gates, F.B.I., Vol. ii., p. 98. 

 Occurs in all the hill rivers at the foot of the hills around the head of 

 the valley, absent from the plains. Specimens procured on both sides of 

 the watershed on the north frontier, 7-11-04, S $; Dejoo R., 5-3-06, 

 5 ; Runganuddie, November to March numerous records. 



Dejoo, 27-11-10, a pair of males were vying with each other in their 

 endeavours at song whilst taking periodical flights at short intervals a few 

 inches above the fast running water with expanded tails, always returning 

 to their point of vantage in some overhanging creepers which were partial- 

 ly immersed in the river. 



173. Phoenicurus aurorea leucoptera, Blyth (641). 



Ruticilla aurorea, Gates, F.B.I., Vol. ii., p. 93. 



Cold season migrant. Generally distributed in the cold season months 

 throughout the whole districts of Lakhimpur and Sibsagar and is the 

 predominant Red-start. Frequents the vicinity of compounds and 

 cultivated areas on its arrival and is a familiar and welcomed visitant. 



North Lakhimpur, P.O. Station headquarters, 28-10-11, d""' ; 30-10- 

 1911, S $*; Silonibari; Dejoo, 29-10-10, $*; Dhoolohat, 31-10-10,d*; 

 Dejoo forest clearance foot of hills, 9-11-08, S " ; Rungagora (Plains), 

 13-11-01, S ; Dejoo, 16-11-04, S ; Dejoo, 13-11-04, 5 ; North Lakhimpur, 

 21-11-05, c? ; Dejoo, 12-4-10 $ *. 



J74. Phcenicurus hodgsoni, (Moore.) (643). — Hodgson's Red-start. 

 Ruticilla hodgsoni, Gates, F.B.I., Vol. ii., p. 95. 



Occurs at irregular intervals in the cold season throughout the plains. 

 These records constitute the whole of the evidence as to its status. 



Dejoo, 3-11-08, c? * ; Dejoo, 20-11-10, $ ; Joyhing, 20-11-10,$ *; R. Dejoo, 

 18-12-10.* Numerous in the stony bed of the higher reaches of the river, 

 only females noted at the time ; Dejoo, 4-12-10, S '" ; Rungagora, 3-1-03, $ ; 

 Dholong Mukh, 19-1-06, J * ; Derpai, 26-1-06* ; two noted in small patch 

 of ground surrounded by forest ; Joyhing, 23-1-08 S ; Derpai, 27-1-05, S ; 

 29-1-05,2; Rungagora, 7-2-04, cJ ; Joyhing, 8-3-11, d ?"; Dejoo, 19-3-08, c? ; 

 Nagahoolie, 27-3-04, S • 



175. Phcenicurus ochruros rufiveiitris (Vieill.) (644). — The Indian Redstart. 

 Ruticilla rufiventris, Gates, F. B. I., Vol. ii, p. 95. 



A cold season migrant, apparently passing over the district lying at the 

 foot of the hills on the north frontier at its descent to the plains as with 

 one exception the sum total of records denote its return at the commence- 

 ment of the hot weather, procured at Gauhati, Lower Assam, 12-2-11, S • 



Dejoo, 23-3-10, S * ; wet spell of weather. 26-3-10, 6 ; this bird was in 

 a fat condition ; 7-4-08, J*, south side of river; Rungagora, 9-4-03; Hes- 

 samara, 9-4-05, $; Rungagora, 11-4-03, S ; R- Dejoo, base of hills, 16-4-04, 

 c? d , in river bed, base of hills ; Dejoo, 18-4-08, 6 ; Dejoo, 22-4-10, $ * ; 

 Dejoo, 25-4-10, § *; Derpai, 14-1-06, S as this locality is at the entrance 

 of the Subansiri Gorge, this bird may have been a late arrival or spending 

 the cold weather in these quarters. 



