FRINGILLIN^. 387 



pairs near Darjeeling. Hodgson obtained it in Nepal, where he 

 says they belong to the Northern region, whence they wander into 

 the central region, even in summer, in search of ripe stony fruits. 

 According to Captain Hutton this species " comes to Mussooree in 

 flocks, during jNIarch and April, and remains as long as it can 

 find plenty of cherry stones to crack, after which it disappears. 

 They have a curious chattering note, and love to sit on the tops 

 of the tallest trees. When at work on a wild cherry-tree they are 

 easily detected by the constant cracking sound of the cherry- 

 stones, Avhich they never break, but open most dexterously at the 

 joining of the valves. The ground beneath the trees is strewed 

 with the opened shells." 



The next species is not a typical one, and is placed by Bonaparte 

 undei Hesperiphojia, but it does not range satisfactorily with either. 

 The sexes are alike, and the bill is much less bulged than in the 

 last species, perfectly conic, and with the culmen straight, and it 

 somewhat approximates, according to Mr. Blyth, an African genus, 

 Pyrenestes of Swainson. 



728. Mycerobas carnipes, Hodgson, 



Coccothraustes, apud Hodgson— Gould, Birds of Asia, Pt. HI. 

 pi. 12— Blyth, Cat. 686— Horsf., Cat. 696— Cocc. speculigerus, 

 Brandt. 



The White-avinged Grosbeak. 



Descr. — Whole head, neck, and breast, sooty brown ; wings 

 and tail dusky, with yellowish edgings, and a white speculum on the 

 wings, as in the last, but larger ; the back, wing-coverts, and terti- 

 aries with some olive yellow spots and stripes ; the lower back and 

 rump greenish yellow ; beneath, the abdomen, vent, and under 

 tail-coverts, greenish yellow, the last sometimes dashed with 

 dusky. 



Bill and legs fleshy grey; irides brown. Length 8f inches ; 

 wing 4f ; tail 3| to nearly 4; bill straight to front |. 



This species has hitherto only been procured in Nepal, within 

 our limits ; but it is known as an inhabitant of Northern Persia, 

 and parts of Central Asia, and it appears to occur very rarely on 

 the south side of the Himalayas. 



