SAXICOLINiE. 127 



them breeding in the Bhagulpore and Gya districts, making their 

 nests among thick tufts of grass, but whether attached to the 

 grass, or on the ground, he does not state. He gives the native 

 name as Kat-pidda. 



485. Pratincola insignis, Hodgson. 

 J. A. S. XVI., 129. 



The Large Bush-chat. 



Dcscr. — Male (in summer dress) above black ; throat, sides of 

 the neck, upper tail-coverts, a large patch on the wings, the base 

 of the primaries, and most of the large coverts, white ; the breast 

 bright ferruginous ; belly white, slightly tinged with ferruginous. 



Bill and feet black. Length 6|- inches; wing 3| ; tail 2^ ; tarsus 



It is very similar to P. rubicola, but larger, differs in having 

 a white throat, and also in the much larger wing spot. This 

 species of Pratincola has only as yet been found in Nepal, and 

 probably comes from the most Northern districts, perhaps, as 

 Mr. Blyth hints, from Tibet. I did not observe it at Darjeeling. 



Besides the Pratincola rubicola, and P. rubetra of Europe, P. 

 pastor, of Africa (placed as sybilla, Gmelin, in Bonaparte's Con- 

 spectus,) P. Hemprichii, Ehrenb., and P. salax, Verreaux, also from 

 Africa, belong to this genus and section. 



The next species differs slightly in its mode of coloration, 

 longer tail, which is slightly rounded, stronger bill, and short tarsi. 



486. Pratincola ferrea, Hodgson. 



J. A. S. XVI., 129— Blyth, Cat. 1000— Horsf., Cat. 436— 

 Sarrak-chak-pho, Lepch. 



The Dark Gray Bush-chat. 



Descr. — Male, above darkish ashy grey; the feathers centred 

 with blackish, lighter and less streaked on the rump ; lores and 

 ear-coverts black, and a white supercilium ; tail black, with a 

 narrow edging of white externally, and the outer pair of feathers 

 (which are 5- inch shorter than the centre ones) are partially 

 albescent; wings blackish, with white wing-spot usually concealed; 



