MOTACILLINJE. 215 



central feathers black, except at the base ; the outermost white 

 with a black tip, and the intermediate ones with the black 

 gradually increasing to the central feathers ; a large white wing 

 band ; chin, throat, and upper part of breast, black, the rest below 

 white. 



Bill and legs black ; irides brown. Length 5^ inches ; extent 

 9| ; wing 2f ; tail 2\ ; bill at front ^ ; tarsus 1. 



This little Enicurus, aberrant as regards the shortness of its tail, 

 appears to be found throughout the whole extent of the Hima- 

 layas, though more common in their eastern portion, for Jameson 

 says that it is rare in the N. W. ; and Adams, who observed it in 

 Cashmere, states that it is not nearly so common as maculatus. 

 About Darjeeling it is far from rare, but it does not ascend the 

 streams so high as the spotted Fork-tail, being most abundant 

 between 2,000 and 5,000 feet of elevation. It does not affect 

 the smaller brooks, but chiefly good sized rapid streams, and it 

 may often be seen seated on a rock in the midst of a boiling 

 torrent, which is now and then almost submerged by a wave ; and 

 it feeds, almost exclusively, on rocks that are so washed over, 

 following the retreating wave, or climbing up a slippery rock with 

 great ease. It often contends with the plumbeous water Redstart, 

 as already mentioned (page 143J for a choice piece of rock, and is 

 generally vanquished by its more spirited antagonist. It feeds 

 on various water insects, chiefly on the larva? of various Neurop- 

 tera that frequent the wet rocks and the edges of rapids. 



A nest was brought to me, said to be that of this bird, found on 

 a ledge of rock near a stream, with three eggs, very similar to 

 those of E. maculatus, but smaller. 



588. Enicurus nigrifrons, Hodgson. 

 • Gould, P, Z. S. 1859, p. 102. 



The Black-fronted Fork-tail. 



Descr. — Above black, with the upper tail-coverts, wing-band, 

 base of the central, and the two outer tail-feathers, entirely white ; 

 beneath white ; the throat and breast mottled with black and white. 



Length 6 inches ; wing 2{| ; tarsus 1. 



