1868.] N. W. Himalaya. 29 



usually of the same colour. Below, the plumage is albescent, more or 

 less gray, the feathers on the breast being edged with dusky. The 

 change of plumage is very remarkable ; there are scarcely two speci- 

 mens to be met with which exactly agree in colouring. 



It is very probable, that the young birds of this species assume 

 their full plumage only after the second year. In the first, the pale 

 streaks on the upper plumage seem to be large and of a more fulvous 

 colour, the breast more dusky ; in the second year the streaks are 

 narrow, pale white, and the plumage below more albescent. Although 

 I have no direct observations on this point, I think it probable from 

 tbe fact that I obtained, far in the interior, birds of this last colouring 

 in May, and those of the first description not before the end of June 

 and then only on the lower elevations of the outer ranges ; in the 

 interior not before July. 



The species is very common between 4,000 and 11,000 feet, at 

 which elevations I often found it in the neighbourhood of Chini. It 

 is not only seen on low branches, but very often on a dry perch near 

 or on the top of a tree (especially of the oak), constantly dashing 

 after insects and returning again to the same point. In 1865 I 

 procured a specimen in Lahul, on the southern side of the Baralatse 

 pass at an elevation of more than 13,000 feet, but I do not remember 

 having seen it anywhere in W. Tibet, though it may occur. 

 It is also rare in all the more western parts of the Himalayas, in 

 Chamba, Kishtwar and Kashmir, while it appears to be frequently 

 met with on the eastern ranges, towards Nepal. 



84. Eumyias melanops, Vig., (I. 463), is only a summer visitant 

 to the hills ; it breeds about Kotegurh, but does not go eastwards 

 of the Nachar forests. Compared with other allied species it is con- 

 sidered to be rather a rare bird. 



85. Cyornis ruficauda, Sivai n s., (I. 468). The lores and eye- 

 lids are whitish ; wing feathers ashy brown, pale rufous on the edges 

 of the inner webs and olivaceous on the outer edges. The rump is 

 only slightly, the upper tail coverts bright ferruginous, and the tail 

 somewhat darker. 



Male and female do not seem to differ in colouring, except that the 

 breast is somewhat more albescent in the latter. 



In the young bird all the feathers above are more or less whitish, or 



