6i 



under surface dark brown at the base, broadly 

 margined with greyish olive ; bill browner than in 

 the male. 



THE SCARLET GROSBEAK (^Hcematospiza sipahi). 

 (From Jet-doll's Birds of India. Ed. I. Vol. II., p. 394.) 



Male, brilliant scarlet, with the wings and tail 

 dusky brown, more or less scarlet edged ; the tibial 

 feathers dark brown, and the lower tail-coverts 

 dashed with dusky. The female is dusky brown ; 

 the feathers broadly margined with dull greenish 

 yellow; rump bright yellow ; beneath pale olivaceous 

 yellow, 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. Himalayas, in Nepal and Sikhim ; 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 pairs. It frequents both forest 

 and bush\^-ground, feeds on fruits and seeds of various 

 kinds, and has a loud whistling note. 



Pr. Bonaparte and Schlegel, 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 Tnii of 

 India, Carpodaacs erythrinus was probably intended. 



Bonaparte places next this bird a remarkable 

 species from Japan, Chmmoprodus papa, which appears 

 to be coloured somewhat like Pyrrhospiza pimicea. 



