220



Correspondence.



tail and larger wing feathers. The European Blue Rock Thrush, on the other

hand, merely changes the colour of the head, without shedding any feathers, the


crown becoming a brighter silvery blue-grey.


* * *


Mr. ASTLEY has a true pair of the lovely little Himalayan Blue-headed

Rock Thrush, brought over by Major G. A. Perreau. (Petrocincla cinchloryncha )

—the male, a small and very glorified edition of the European Rock Thrush

(P. saxatilis), with a white patch in the middle of the wings, instead of on the

lower part of the back.



ANOTHER INDIAN COLLECTION.


Mr. W. FROST is on his way home with a fine collection of Indian birds,

a good number of which are new to aviculture, including the beautiful Blue

Nuthatch (Sitta frontalis), the tiny Chestnut-crowned Tesia ( T. castaneocoronata );

the Spotted Forktail: two or three species of Wagtails, and also of Chats ; little

Blue and White and other Flycatchers; Golden Bush Robins, besides many

others, We hope he will be able to land them safely and in good health.



THE GREAT NILTAVA.


Mr. A. EZRA secured the male of the pair of Niltava grandis, brought

home by Major Perreau, a Niltava the male of which is a fine deep blue and

black, whilst the female is pale brown with a small streak of blue on each side of

the neck. It was certainly a pity that a compulsory separation was granted,

especially as birds in pairs are so often more attractive than single ones, the male

and female, when differing greatly in colouring, as in the Niltavas, acting as a

foil the one to the other in their individual beauty. The great Niltava is a good

deal larger than the other species. We understand that Major Perreau has

presented the female to the Zoological Society.



