424 Capt. Beavan on various Indian Birds. 



245. Certhia discolor. Sikbim Tree-creeper. 



Both these were procured by me at Darjeeling, in 1862. 



249. SiTTA LEUCOPsis. White-cheelced Nuthatch. 

 Observed by me at Mahasoo^ beyond Simla in September 



1866, on the bark of a half decayed pine {Pinus excelsa). The 

 note of this species is very peculiar, more like that of a frog or 

 insect, than that of a bird. It consists of a single harsh note, 

 which I can hardly attempt to syllable. I noticed specimens in 

 Dr. Stoliczka's collection, some of which were procured at 

 Simla [cf. Ibis, 1868, p. 807), but I have never observed the 

 species there. On the 2nd of October I secured one of a pair 

 which were frequenting a half-decayed pine. The dimensions 

 of my specimen in the flesh were as follows : — Length S'STS", 

 wing 3, tail 1*75, tarsus '6875, spread of foot 1'4375, bill 

 from front '6875, from gape '875 in. The bill has the 

 upper mandible and the terminal half of the lower black, the 

 basal half of the lower being of a blue-lead colour ; the legs are 

 black ; the irides brown. There is a white spot at the base of the 

 winglet, which does not seem to be mentioned by Dr. Jerdon. 



250. SiTTA CASTANEOVENTRis. Chestnut-bcllied Nuthatch. 

 I made my first acquaintance with this handsome little bird, 



when staying at Umballah with the late Dr. Scott (who had not 

 previously observed it there, though Col. Tytler had), and on 

 the 22nd of October, 1866, shot one in his garden. I give the 

 dimensions of this specimen and of two others procured in the 

 same locality a few days later. 



Length. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill from front. Extent. 



5-125 2-95 1-6 -6875 -6875 8-75 



c?.. 5-125 3 1-5 -6875 -625 e'75 



$ . . 4-875 2-875 1-5 -625 -625 8-5 



These specimens were killed in a grove of tamarisk trees, 

 when apparently seeking for small insects. The black line, in- 

 cluding the ear-coverts, from the eyes extends to beyond the 

 nape on either side, which is not exactly as Dr. Jerdon tells us. 

 The primaries have a white spot underneath at their base; the 

 under tail-coverts are ashy-blue, tipped with dark cinnamon- 

 colour ; the two middle tail-feathers are grey, the rest are black 



