THE BIRDS OF NORTE CACHAR. 135 



This little redstart seems to feed principally on the wing, and it is 

 also a very late feeder. I have watched it catching mosquitoes over a 

 rapid, seating itself on the stones and shingle forming the bank of the 

 river, thence taking flights after its prey and when I finally left it was 

 too dark to see its dusky little form against the dark water or grey 

 stones, but when I did last see it, it was still actively engaged in 

 dining. 



(277) Cyanecula sueciga.— The Indian Blue-throat. 

 Oates, No. 647; Hume, No. 514, 

 Shot a male in October, 1889. 



(278) Calliope camtschatkensis.— The Common Ruby-throat. 

 Oates, No. 650 ; Hume, No. 512. 

 By no means a very rare visitor in North Cachar and extends 

 well into the plains. Mr. H. A. Hole sent me a beautiful specimen 

 of this bird and also one of the next to identify for him. Both these 

 were, I believe, got by him in the plains, at the foot of the North 

 Cachar Hills, and I see that, in a late issue of the Asian, he records 

 both these birds as being common. 



(279) C. tschebaiwei.— The Tibet Ruby-throat. 

 Oates, No. 652. 

 A rare but regular winter visitant. 

 (280) Taesiger chbys-eus.— The Golden Bush-Robin. 

 Oates, No. 653 ; Hume, No. 511. ' 

 A rare bird but resident, breeding in the higher ranges and val- 

 leys. An egg was brought to me by a very intelligent and honest 

 Naga, which was said to have belonged to this bird. Oates' descrip- 

 tion in Hume's " Nests and Eggs " (2nd Edn. Vol. II, p. 68) would do 

 equally well for this one, i.e., " very regular oval, a little pointed to- 

 wards both ends ; the surface of the shell is rather uneven, but there 

 is a fair amount of gloss * * The colour is a uniform rather deep 

 blue." My egg measures *79"X'58". No nest was brought to me, but 

 I was told that it was made of moss and leaves, lined with the latter 

 and that it was placed in a hollow of a stump. The nest was taken at 

 an elevation of over 4,000 feet. I believe this egg to be authentic. 

 (281) Ianthia rufilata.— The Red-flanked Bush-Robin. 

 Oates, No. 654 ; Hume, No. 508. 

 I shot a single female in the winter of 1886-87, 

 4 



