Observations in the Sutlej Valley." 213 



dula pispoletta (Pall.)*. But the following three species, no- 

 ticed by Dr. Stoliczka, must be added : — Linota brevirostris, 

 Gould, admitted, with some doubt, as distinct from L. montium, 

 (Gm.), by our author and Herrvon Pelzeln (Ibis, 1868, p. 319); 

 Montifringilla adamsi, Moore ; and M. hcBinatopygia, Gould. All 

 three visit the valley of the Sutlej during the winter, and, 

 together with Allotrius xanthochlorus, increase the list of Indian 

 species by six. Emberiza stracheyi, Moore, however, is considered 

 identical with E. cia, L. ; and thus the Indian list is reduced by 

 one; while Corvus tibetanus, Hodgs., is regarded as scarcely 

 separable from C. corax, L. ; Fregilus himalayanus, Gould, as not 

 distinct from the European Chough, and Regulus himalayensis, 

 Blyth, upon Herr von Pelzeln's authority, as identical with /?. 

 cristatus. A hitherto somewhat dubious species, Petrocincla 

 castaneocoUis, Less. (Rev. Zool. June 1810, p. 160), was redisco- 

 vered by Dr. Stoliczka in West Tibet, north of Dras, and is ex- 

 pected by him to be found residing in the Punjab during the 

 winter. He identifies it with P. saxatilis (L.). It is remarkable 

 that Lanius cristatus, L., is not included in the list of the Sutlej- 

 Valley birds. The only Rufous-tailed Shrike procured is iden- 

 tified as L. arenarius, Blyth, and was but once met with cast of 



* Zoog. Rosso-Asiatica, i. p. 526. It was observed by Pallas in south- 

 ern Russia, and especially in the Caspian desert. He considered it to be 

 the same as the bird named Alauda spinoletta by Linnaeus (S. N. i. 

 p. 288), from Italy. The Liunsean name Pallas altered to pispoletta, because 

 Oetti (Ucc. di Sardegna, p. 159) stated th&t pispoletta, and not spinoletta, 

 was the true Florentine name for the Italian bii'd, adding that the great 

 Swede had never even seen it. A. spinoletta, L., is made equal to Antkus 

 aqiuiticus, Bechst., by Bonaparte (Consp. Av. i. p. 247). Eversmann 

 (Add. ad Zoog. Ross-As. p. 16, 1835) refers Alauda pispoletta, Pall., 

 also to Anthus aquaticus. Bonaparte, on the other hand, regarded it as a 

 distinct species of Alauda, and referred Alaudula raytal (Buch.-IIam.) to 

 it as a synonym. Dr. Stoliczka notes the differences whereby A. piipuletta 

 is distinguished from A. 7'aytal ; and if the learned doctor's identification 

 is correct, the discovery of Pallas's bird so far to the eastAvard is interesting. 

 The specific title is unfortunate, founded, as it is, on the Florentine trivial 

 name of a totally distinct species. Menetries (Cat. Raison. Caucas. p. 39) 

 mentions that A. pispoletta is very common in the desert-plains on the 

 shores of the Caspian durhig the months of April, May, and June. Later 

 in the year he saw no more of it. 



