1868 -] N. W. Himalaya. 27 



75. Lanius arenarius, Blyth, (I. 407), was only once met with 

 east of Chini, but it is during the summer more common in W. Tibet. 



76. Pericrocotus speciosus, Lath., (I. 419). I have only once 

 procured a pair north of Belaspoor ; it does not seem to be found in 

 the interior of the hills. 



77. Pericrocotus brevirostris, Vig., (I. 421), is on the contrary 

 found everywhere in the low hills, even in winter. Daring the summer 

 months it migrates into the interior, ascending to the limit of 

 forests. It is common about Chini, breeding on elevations between 

 9,000 and 10,000 feet. Some of my specimens are/*% 9 inches long. 

 The red and yellow patch on the wings of the male and female, respec- 

 tively, extend only up to the first four quills, the 2-4th of which are, 

 towards their termination, on the outer webs insinuated and ed-ed 

 with pale. 



The young bird resembles in yellow colouring the female, but all 

 the feathers above are tipped whitish, forming short cross bars; 

 below, the yellow is paler, throat and breast barred with dusky and 

 whitish, the white being more prominent on the vent and the lower 

 tail coverts. 



78. Dicrurus longicaudatus, H ay, (I. 430), is the only species of 

 Drongs which is common all through the valley. It breeds about 

 Chini at an elevation of between 9 and 10,000 feet and probably goes 

 beyond the Kunawar frontier into Tibet. 



XVII. Family, MUSGIGAPIDJS. 



79. Tchitrea paradisi, L in., (I. 445), common in the summer 

 months in Kulu and eastern Kashmir, but it is rather rare in the 

 eastern portions of the Sutlej valley ; I have never seen it much 

 beyond the Nachar forests and above elevations of 9000 feet. 



The colour of the plumage is known to be very variable. I met with 

 old males, which had half of the tail feathers on one side white and 

 on the other half ferruginous ; and again some which had only the 

 terminations of the long central feathers ferruginous. It is probable 

 that even old birds often vary in the annual colouring of the plumage. 

 Mr. Cassin (Journ. Am. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philadelphia, I860, vol. IV.' 

 p. 323, pi. 50, figs. 1-2) describes from the west coast of Africa, under 

 the name of Muscipela Duchalui, two specimens, apparently belonging 

 to this species. 



