240 F. Stoliczka — Mammals and Birds inhabiting Kachh. No. 3, 



I perfectly remember African specimens of S. deserti which I repeatedly 

 compared in 1867 ; they were no doubt on the whole a little smaller (on the 

 average, I find in a note : wing 35, tail 2 - 5, bill at front - 45, tarsus 095), 

 than most of Indian specimens, but there was not the least difference in 

 structure and colour between the two. Now, as Indian specimens occasion- 

 ally equal in size African ones, and as the former, which undoubtedly 

 represent one species, differ in the size of the wing from 3"5 to 4 inches, I 

 do not see, — with all respect due to the opinions of Messrs. Gould, Blyth 

 and other eminent ornithologists — any reason in regarding the Indian birds 

 as specifically distinct from the African deserti. All we can say is, that 

 African specimens are as a rule lighter and smaller, while Indian specimens 

 are as a rule slightly heavier and larger, but I do assert that there are to be 

 found specimens perfectly equal in size from both countries. 



494. Ceecomela ettsca. 



I have only seen solitary specimens in the hilly districts, between low 

 bushes. The birds have much of the habit of a Petrocossyphus. 



497. Ktjticilla eufiventeis. 



This is the only redstart which has been observed ; it was tolerably 

 abundant from November until the end of February. 



I shot 3 males and two females, and the measurements of all are con- 

 siderably smaller than those given by Jerdon : $, wing 3*2 to 3 '3 ; tail 

 2 - 4 to 2 - 6, tarsus - 9, bill at front - 4 inch. The females are a little 

 smaller. 



530. Oethotomtis longicaudtts. Common. 



Lores and eyelids white. Tibial feathers pale rufous. I shot a specimen 

 while hunting for insects between large stones of an old embankment at 

 the Sir-talao in the south-western part of Kachh. It looked in every crevice 

 or hole, disappearing and emerging again from among the stones, just like 

 a wren. Other specimens I often saw limiting on the ground in Euphorbia 

 bushes. 



536. Pbinta geacilis. Not common. 



Lores extending on the supraciliary edge white, tibial feathers pale 

 rufous. 



544fo's. Detmoieus Jeedoni, (Blyth). 



P. ? n. sp , Journ. A. S. B., xi, p. 883 and xiii, 376. 



P. Jerdoni, Blyth, J. A. S. B„ xvi, p. 459. 



Upper plumage entirely, and more or less distinctly, rufescent brown ; 

 margins of wing coverts, tertials and upper tail coverts slightly more tinged 

 with rufescent, primaries on the edges of the outer webs pale rufescent ; 

 shoulder edge of wing, lower wing coverts and all wing feathers about the 

 edges of the inner webs (not quite extending to the tip) rufescent whitish. 

 Lores, supercilium and round the eye white ; ear coverts white at the base, 



