Page:The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma (Birds Vol 2).djvu/103

Rh Genus CHIMARRHORNIS, Hoclgs., 1844.

The genus Chimarrhomis is closely allied to the Forktails in habits, and connects them with the Redstarts. The sole species of this genus is found on the Himalayas and on certain hill-ranges of Assam and Burma.

Fig. 27. Head of C. leucoccphahis.

In Chimarrhomis the sexes are alike, and the tail, which is chestnut tipped with black, is much rounded ; the wing is large and rounded, the first primary being about half the length of the second ; the tarsus is long.

638. Chimarrhornis leucocephalus. The White-capped Redstart.

Phcenicura leucocephala, Vigors, P. Z. S. 1830, p. 35 ; Gould, Cent. pi. xxvi, fig. 1.

Ruticilla leucocephala (Vir/.), Blyth, Cat. p. 169; Horsf. fy M. Cat. i, p. 309 ; Blanf. J. A. S. B. xli, pt. ii, p. 51. Chaemorrornis leucocephala ( Vig.), Jerd. B. I. ii, p. 143 ; Stoliczka, J. A. S. B. xxxvii, pt. ii, p. 44 ; A. Anders. S. F. iii, p. 355 ; Hume 8f Senders. Lah. to Yark. p. 214; Hume, Cat. no. 506; Scully, S. F. viii, p. 303 ; Gates, B. B. i, p. 24. Chimarrhornis leucocephala ( Vig.), Anders. Yunnan Exped., Aves, p. 613 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. vii,' p. 47 ; Hume, S. F. xi, p. 197 ; Gates in Hume's N. 8f E. 2nd ed. ii, p. 63.

Gir-chaondia, Hind. ; Kali-pholia at Molmn Ghat ; Mati-tap-pho, Lepch. ; Chubia-mati, Bhut.

Coloration. Crown and nape white ; with this exception, the whole head and neck, with the breast, back, and the whole of the wings black; rump, upper tail-coverts, abdomen, flanks, and under tail-coverts chestnut ; tail chestnut, broadly tipped with black.

The young have the plumage blackish brown, the feathers of the back, rump, and of the whole lower plumage fringed with rufous ; crown and nape white with black edges; tail and wings as in the adult. The rufous and black tips and fringes are soon cast off, and the adult plumage assumed in October or November.

Bill black; gape fleshy white; iris deep brown; feet blackish brown ; claws black (Scully).

Length about 7*5 ; tail 3-2 ; wing 3-9 ; tarsus 1/2 ; bill from gape -8.

Distribution. The Himalayas from Afghanistan and Gilgit to Assam; the Kluisi hills; Manipur; (lie second defile, Irrawaddy river; Arrakan.