Dr. AI. Meuzbier on PalcearcHc Birds. .299 



XXX. — On some new or rare Paleearctic Birds. By Dr. M. 

 Menzbier, Professor in the University of Moscow. 



(Plate IX.) 



1 GIVE herewith the descriptions of some new and a few 

 notes on some little-known Palaearctic birds^ based upon the 

 specimens preserved in the late Mr. Severtzow's and my own 

 ornithological collections. 



Tharrhaleus pallidus, sp. nov. (Plate IX.) 

 Th. pallidas : supra brunnescens, subtus flavescens, gula et 

 pectore brunneo variegatis. 



Dimensions. ? : wing 75 millim.^ tail 68, bill 12, tarsus 19. 



Description. Legs aud feet flesh-coloured; bill brown, 

 paler on the lower mandible and at the base. Plumage 

 above earth-brown, under surface of the body whitish yellow. 

 The head, back, and scapulars pale earth- brown, each feather 

 earth-brown broadly margined with ochreous ; wing-coverts 

 brown, margined with whitish, the greater broadly margined 

 with ochreous on the outer webs and with whitish on the 

 tips ; upper tail-coverts more uniformly pale brown. Lores 

 and ear-coverts brownish ; chin brownish, each feather brown 

 margined with whitish ; throat, breast, abdomen, and under 

 tail-coverts whitish yellow, with brown on the throat and 

 breast, each feather of the last mentioned parts being brown 

 on the basal half; flanks brownish, each feather with a 

 browner shaft-stripe. Wing and tail-feathers brown mar- 

 gined with ochreous. 



There can be no doubt that in the more worn plumage 

 this species would have more dusky and uniformly coloured 

 chin, throat, and breast. 



The young bird (in the first plumage) is similar to the 

 adult in the shades of its colour, but has the brown on both 

 the upper and under surfaces of the body more intense. 



Two specimens of this new Tharrhaleus were obtained by 

 Mr. Severtzow's collector in North-western Mongolia, near 

 Khobdo. The bird probably breeds in the branches of the 

 Altai Mountains, and winters in the plains of Mongolia. 



