PRATINCOLA LEUCURA, Biyth. 



White-tailed Bush-Chat. 



Pratincola leucura, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xvi. p, 474. 



p. 170. — Jerd. Birds of India, vol. ii. part i. p. 162. 

 Khar-pidda, Hindoos at Monghyr. 



-Id. Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, 



This is one of the most conspicuously marked Bush-Chats inhabiting India, where there are at least six 

 species, one or two of which are very similar to our own members of the genus Pratincola — a form strictly 

 confined to the old world, being found in Europe, Asia, and Africa, but not in America. These little birds 

 affect sterile and scrubby districts rather than woods and forests, and do not resort to the ground so much as 

 the true Saooicolce or Wheatears, to which they are very nearly allied, but whose province is open wastes, the 

 crowns of hills, and rocky districts ; they are also more stationary in their habits, seldom quitting the 

 countries they respectively frequent. 



Of the habits and disposition of the White-tailed Bush-Chat little appears to be known ; but it may be 

 inferred that they are very similar to those of the other members of the genus. Its most intimate allies in 

 India are Pratincola indica and P. insignis. As is the case with most of the species, the female differs 

 considerably from the male ; for, although she presents a similar style of plumage, her tints are much less 

 gay and decided. 



The following note is extracted from Mr. Jerdon's valuable 'Birds of India.' 



" The White-tailed Bush-Chat till lately had only been procured in Sindh, whence it was sent by Sir A. 

 Burnes"to the Museum of the Asiatic Society in Calcutta. I found it far from rare in Thyet-myo in Upper 

 Burmah, frequenting grassy chirrs on the the Irrawaddy, but never the low jungles that lined the banks. 

 Somewhat to my surprise, I observed it to be most abundant in the Gangetic valley from Rajmehal to 

 Monghyr, frequenting fields and low grasses. It is a permanent resident and breeds here ; for L found the 

 young birds just flown in April, but did not succeed in procuring the nest." 



The male has the head, neck, throat, back, and wing-coverts deep black ; bases of the secondaries and a 

 few of the innermost larger coverts white, forming a conspicuous patch on the wing, in the centre of the 

 breast a patch of bright rufous ; sides of the neck and breast, abdomen, and under tail-coverts white ; 

 primaries and secondaries very dark brown, edged with pale brown ; two centre tail-feathers black ; the 

 remainder white with the exception of the apical portion of the outer and the tips of both webs, which are 

 dark brown, becoming pale brown on the extreme edge ; bill and feet black. 



The whole of the upper surface, wings, and tail of the female are brown, with a light edging to each 

 feather; her white wing-spot is less conspicuous; and the under surface is creamy white, tinged with 

 rufous on the breast ; bill and feet black : thus it will be seen that the female is very similar to the female 

 of P. indica, and exhibits no trace of the white marking of the tail so conspicuous in the opposite sex. 



The Plate represents the two sexes of the natural size. The plant is the Berberis concinna, Hook, fil., in 

 flower. 







