Co rrespondence . 
27 
Tt. is also known as Horsfield's Blue Redbreast and 'J'ickeH's 
Blue Redbreast. 
T liave just heard from Mr. Grallowaj' confirming his previous 
statement — " it is a cock and one of those species unable to keep their 
full natural colouring in captivity," —he also writes as follows : - 
" When I first received him, his breast was not a genuine red 
colour— I should call it a rich terra-cotta colour, not the real terra-cotta, 
but of a lighter shade." 
This you will see brings him into agreement witli Oates' des- 
cription, but he uses the term ferruginous. 
" CV/o/vz/.s- rnhpciiJiiidcx (Blue Throated Redbreast). Coi.ohkatio.n 
Male : Forehead and a streak over the eye, glistening blue ; lores and 
the feathers at the base of the bill, black ; ear-coverts, dusky blue ; 
upper plumage, dark blue, the tail with black shafts and the inner webs 
mostly brown ; wings, dark brown, each feather narrowly edged with 
dark blue ; lesser wing coverts, bright blue ; chin, throat, cheeks and 
aides of nock, dusky blue ; breast and upper abdomen, bright ferruginous ; 
lower abdomen and under tail coverts, white ; under wing-coverts, pale 
ferruginous." 
" Cyoriih t/rkfilli (Tickell's Blue Flycatcher) from Fauna of 
British India, Oates, Vol. II. page 25. Colouration. Male resembles 
the male of (h/ariils rnhecaloide.a, but is larger and of a duller colour ; 
the rufous of the breast rises up into the throat and chin, leaving only 
the extreme point of the latter black. 
" Female resembles the male closely. The whole upper plumage, 
sides of heads, coverts and visible portions of the closed wings and tail, 
dull blue ; forehead, eyebrows, and bend of wing, shining cobalt blue ; 
lores and feathers over the nostrils, whitish ; chin, throat and breast, pale 
orange ; remainder of lower plumage, whitish. 
" The young are streaked with fulvous and resemble the young of 
the other members of the genus. Iris, brown ; bill, blackish ; legs and 
feet, bluish brown, dusky bluish, or l)luish grey. Length, nearl}' (Jin. ; 
tail, 2"5in. ; wing, 2"8in. : tarsus, '7 ; bill from gape, 75. 
" Di.sTRiHUTiON. The whole peninsular of India except Lind and 
the extreme N.W. portion. It is absent from the Hinr.dayas. It appears 
to be I'esident wherever found, but may be locally migratory according 
to season and place. This Flycatcher occur.s iti Ceylon up to 40()l)ft. 
" Habits. Breeds in May, June and July, constructing a nest of 
dead leaves and grass in a hole of a bank or tree, laying three eggs, 
which are so thickly speckled as to appear of an olive colour or brownish 
rufous throughout. Size 'TGin. V)y •,5()in. 
I have also quoted Gates' description of C. ruhirjdoides. as 
the description of tichelli is not complete witliout same. 
TiNNiswooD Miller, F.Z.S 
