386 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



long, with the first three primaries nearly equal, the second slightly 

 longest ; tail moderate, emarginate. 



In this genus, the plumage of both sexes is black and yellow, 

 but the coloring differently disposed to what it was in the last. 

 Mr. Blyth remarks that the typical species manifests a very 

 remarkable affinity with the diminutive and slender-billed Siskins 

 of this sub-family, both in plumage and structure of wings and 

 tail. 



727. Mycerobas melanoxanthos, Hodgson. 



Coccothraustes, apud Hodgson — Gould, Birds of Asia, pt. 

 III. pi. 11— Blyth, Cat. 685— Horsf., Cat. 695— C. fortirostris, 

 Lafresn. — Maltam-fho^ Lepch. 



The Spotted-winged Grosbeak. 



Descr. — Male, Avith the entire parts above, including the head 

 and neck, dull slaty black ; beneath siskin yelloAv ; the base of the 

 primaries, excepting the first three or four, pure white, forming a 

 conspicuous spot ; some of the greater coverts, the shorter prima- 

 ries, and the secondaries and tertiaries, with an oval yellowish wliite 

 spot on the outer webs at the tip. 



Bill and feet plumbeous ; irides brown. Length 8| inches ; 

 extent 15 ; wing 5| ; tail 3 ; bill at front § ; tarsus |. 



The female is a little smaller, has the upper parts like the male, 

 but there is a yellow supercilium, occasionally some of the same 

 colour on the forehead, crown, and nape, as also on the upper part 

 of the dorsal plumage ; the cheeks, too, are yellow ; but the upper 

 ear-coverts dark ; beneath bright yellow, spotted with black, except 

 on the vent and under tail-coverts ; a dark line from the gape, and 

 another from the base of the lower mandible, enclosing the chin, 

 Avhich is unspotted ; wings as in the male, but the pale spots larger, 

 especially on the wing-coverts. The young resemble the female, 

 but the lower parts are whitish, as are the feathers of the crown, 

 nape, and interscapular region. 



This magnificent Grosbeak has been found both in the North- 

 west and \\\ the South-east Himalayas, but more common in the 

 latter region, and chiefly at considerable elevations. In winter, a 

 few descend to a lower region, in which season I got one or two 



