88 SECOND YARKAND MISSION. 



Nos. 1676, 2 , 1691, c? . S.W. of Igliiz Yar, May 18, 1874. 



No. 1701, 2 . Yarkand, May 21, 1874. 



Nos. 1841, 1847, cS ? . Kugiar, June 1, 1874. 



Dr. Stoliczka calls this the commonest bird near Dras. Dr. Henderson states that 

 numbers of specimens were met with from Leh up to the Pan gong Lake, and again in Yar- 

 kand at the foot of the hills. Colonel Biddulph states that it was very common in Ladak 

 and again in Wakhan, but he did not observe it in Turkestan. Dr. Scully, however, writes : — 

 " This species was observed in great numbers in August frequenting mountain-streams at 

 elevations of from 7000 to 8000 feet. It was very common along the course of the Arpalak 

 Hiver, hopping about among the stones and bushes and moving its tail incessantly." He 

 believes that it breeds in Eastern Turkestan. Dr. Stoliczka mentions that on two occasions 

 he shot a male bird in the plumage of the female. 



182. RiTTICILLA ERYTHROGASTER. 



Ruticilla erythrogastra (Giild.) ; Hume & Henders. Lahore to Yark. p. 210 (1873) ; Severtz. Turkest. 

 Jevotii. p. 65 (1873); Dresser, Ibis, 1876, p. 77; Scully, Str. F. iv. p. 144 (1876); Prjev. in 

 Uowley^s Orn. Misc. ii. p. 177 (1877) ; Bidd. Ibis, 1881, p. 63 ; Scully, ibid. p. 445; Severtz. Ibis, 

 1883, p. 68 ; Seebohm, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. v. p. 347 (1881) ; Horaeyer & Tancre, MT. orn. Ver. 

 Wien, 1883, p. 85 ; Menzbier, Ibis, 1885, p. 356 ; Badde, Ornis, iii. p. 487 (1887). 



Ruticilla erythrog aster, Oates, Faun. Brit. Ind., Birds, ii. p. 97 (1890). 



No. 584, juv. Leh, August 30, 1873.— Length 7'3 inches, wing 4*15, tail 3-1, tarsus 1*17 ; 



expanse 12*25 ; bill from front 0-4i5, from gape 0*8 ; length of foot 1*4. Iris brown ; 



bill black ; feet black. 

 No. 694, 6 juv. Tsiiltak, September 15, 1873. 



Nos. 707, 710, 6 . Tanksi, September 16, 1873. 

 Nos. 742. Tanksi, September 18, 1873. 



Nos. 761, 762. Lukung, on the Pangong Lake, September 20, 1873. 

 Nos. 831, 850, 851, 6 2 . Shahidula, October 21, 1873. 

 Nos. 1357, 1358, 6 . Altin Artish, February 16, 1874. 

 No. 1378, ? . Paizabad, March 2, 1874. 

 No. 1409, ? . Aktala, March 22, 1874. 

 ' No. 1441, 6 . Tashkurghan, March 30, 1874. 

 No. 1497, c? . Panjah, April 14-23, 1874. 

 No. 1601, 2 . Sarikol, May 9, 1874.—" Eggs very small yet/' 

 No. 1662, cS . Pasrobat, May 13, 1874. 

 No. 1747, S . Yarkand, May 15-20, 1874. 



The differences in the colour between the summer and the winter plumages is very 

 noticeable in a series of specimens like the above, the red tint being in the summer-killed 

 specimens much paler, while in the winter-killed individuals the breast, lower back, rump, 

 and tail are deep vinous chestnut. The black of the back becomes more intense, and the 

 head purer w hite in summer. 



Dr. Stoliczka's 'Diary' informs us that this Redstart w^as common near Tanksi on the 16th 

 of September, and again near Aktala on the 22nd of March. On the 15th of April he again 

 notes the species as very common near Panjah, but at that date there was no evidence of its 

 nesting. Colonel Biddulph records it from several places — Muglib in Ladak, 13,400 feet, on 



