FRINGILLINiE. 395 



with dusky crescentic marks, becoming more albescent on the 

 lower abdomen. 



Bill yellow; legs brown; irides hazel brown. Length 7^ 

 inches; extent 12^; wing 4^; tail 2|; bill at front ^ ; 

 tarsus f . 



This magnificent bird has chiefly been found in the S. E. Hima- 

 layas, in Nepal and Sikim ; and is unknown in the North-west. 

 It is by no means rare about Darjeeling, and haunts elevations 

 from 5,000 to 10,000 feet, according to the season. I have generally 

 seen it in p.iirs. It frequents both forest and bushy-ground, 

 feeds on fruits and seeds of various kinds, and has a loud whist- 

 ling note. 



Pr. Bonaparte and Sehlegel, as quoted by Gould, state that this 

 bird sings very agreeably, and plays a great part in the mythology 

 of the Hindoos. This of course is quite erroneous, and the 

 common Tiiti of India, Carpodaciis erythrimis, was probably 

 intended. 



Bonaparte places next this bird a remarkable species from 

 Japan, Chaunoproctus jiapa, which appears to be coloured some- 

 what like Pyrrhospiza punicea. 



Gen. Propyrkhula, Hodgson. 



Syn. Spermopipes, Caban. 



Char. — Bill as in Fi/rrhida, but somewhat longer, and the tip 

 of the upper mandible less distinctly prolonged and overhanging ; 

 wings shorter and more rounded ; plumage as in Loxia or 

 Strohilophaga. 



This form, says Blyth, can only be arranged satisfactorily 

 as a separate division, especially intermediate to Pyrrlada and 

 Carpodacus. As previously observed, by the coloration of the 

 female, it ranks very naturally in the present group. Bonaparte 

 places it with Corijthus, the type of the European Pine Gros- 

 beak, C. enucleatoi\ L., but states that it approximates the Car- 

 podaci. Blyth first applied Hodgson's Manuscript generic name 

 to this species, Vtdiich Hodgson afterwards gave to another bird, 

 the Pyrrhospiza punicea, Bl., {vide p. 406 ). 



