212 
ORNITHOLOGY. 
as Dr. Jerdon supposes^ very similar to, but in fact very 
different from^ the male. The intensely deep ferrugineous 
upper tail coverts distinguish the female of this species from 
every other Indian bird for which it could possibly be mis- 
taken. [A. O. //.] 
505. RuticiUa fuliginosa (Vigors). (PL XV.) 
Curiously enough, this species was never observed by the 
expedition anywhere, except at Punch, below the Haji Pir 
Pass, on the way down from Kashmir. [G. HJ] 
Throughout the lower ranges of the Himalayas, south of 
the first snowy ridge, every stream from 1000 to 5000 feet 
elevation is haunted by numerous pairs of this sprightly and 
intrepid little bird. No account seems ever to have been 
given of the nidification of this species. I have never 
myself seen the nest, but the eggs have been sent me both 
by Captain Cock, from near Dharmsal, and by my own 
collectors, from the Valley of the Sutlej. 
The birds breed in May and June, laying three, four, 
and even five eggs, in the immediate vicinity of running 
water. One nest, found in a hole in a rock, was composed 
of fine grass and moss roots, with a little moss — a very 
slight nest, little more than a lining to the hole. Another 
was described as far more substantial, planted in a niche of 
a rock, with some few dry leaves and much moss inter- 
mingled in the structure. 
Canon Tristram remarks that the eggs of Ruticilla are 
never spotted, though the ground colour varies from pure 
white (in the single case of R. tithys) to the most delicate 
white with a faint bluish tinge (in R. moussieri), up to the 
very dark blue of R. semirufa. 
If this generalization be correct the present species 
description. As for the female, she is dull dark olivaceous brown above, 
tinged with rusty on the rump, and with the upper tail coverts deep 
ferruginous. Throat, breast, and flanks dull earthy brown, somewhat 
paler than back. Abdomen, albescent. Lower tail- and under wing- 
coverts, nearly pure white. Tail, blackish brown. Wings, dark brown. 
Tertiaries, edged pale rusty. Some of the wing coverts with more or 
less of white or pale tippings. Chin, and a scarcely perceptible frontal 
line, albescent. 
