174 THE BIEDS OF MONGOLIA ETC. 



59. RuTiciLLA RunvENTRis, Vieill. Crasnochvostha rijehruchaya. 



We obtained specimens in S.E. Mongolia only in the Suma-had and 

 Shara-had mountains ; and even in these localities it appeared to be scarce, 

 inhabiting the bushes that grow near rocks and in clefts. In Ala-shan we 

 found it breeding. In Kan-su we did not observe a single specimen during 

 the summer of 1872, but next spring noticed the first migrants on the 4th 

 of April at the sources of the Tetung-gol, where they kept to the small 

 bushes singly and in pairs. Strange to say, we did not find one in April and 

 May along the Tetung-gol, and therefore cannot say w^hether it breeds there 

 or not. Measurements of the male — length 6''*I, width 9"'5y wing 3"*475 tail 

 2^''54, culmen 0"*42, tarsus 0" 92. We did not succeed in obtaining a 

 female. 



60. RUTICILLA FRONTALIS, Vig. 



Ruticilla frontalis, Gould^ Century of Birds,, pi. xxvi. fig. 1. 

 Ruticilla melanura, Lesson^ Eev. Zool. 1840^ p. 265. 



The above figure of Gould's is bad ; but Lesson's diagnosis is complete 

 enough, and by this the present species has been identified. 



We found Ruticilla frontalis only in Kan-su, where it is rather common. 

 In the wooded and alpine districts the first migrants were observed on the 

 8th of April ; and on the 10th I found a nest, situated on the ground under 

 a rotten stump. It was constructed of moss, bass, and the feathers of 

 Crossoptilon auritum ; the latter, being extremely soft, are very convenient for 

 lining, and are often found in nests of the Kan-su birds. The eggs, four in 

 number, were quite fresh, of a dirty white colour, covered with indistinct 

 reddish-brown spots, which are thickest at the larger end of the egg ; large 

 diameter 0''-73, small 0"'58. After leaving the nest the young keep in 

 families, whilst the old birds commence moulting ; at least, this was the case 

 with all adult specimens shot by us in August. 



We did not notice the autumnal migration, which most likely takes place 



