Birds of the Zarafschan Basin. 445 



reed-beds along the Zarafschan River, from 200 ft. to 

 2000 ft. After the middle of March I never saw any 

 of these birds, but during the winter they were exceedingly 

 common. 



18. Carduelis major. 



Carduelis major Sharpe, Cat. B. xii. p. 189. 

 <J. Samarkand. 10 Feb., 1908. No. 276. 

 This specimen belongs to the large race of the species, 

 having a wing-measurement of 3*5 in. 



19. Carduelis caniceps. 



Carduelis caniceps Sharpe, Cat. B. xii. p. 189. 



(J . Hissar Mts. 20 June, 1908. Nos. 584, 585. 



? . Samarkand. 11 June, 1908. No. 265. 



This species seems to be confined to the mountainous 

 country. I only found it above 5000 ft., and as high as 

 9000 ft. in the Hissar Mts. 



20. Serinus pusillus. 



Serinus pusillus Sharpe, Cat. B. xii. p. 373. 



$ . Hissar Mts. 14-20 June, 1908. Nos. 535, 549, 550, 



551. 

 ? . „ „ 14-20 June, 1908. Nos. 527, 547, 548. 



This is a very common bird at 9500 ft. in the hill-country. 

 It searches for food in large flocks on the alpine meadows, 

 and breeds in the juniper-groves. The nest is placed on a 

 branch about twelve feet from the ground, and is made 

 entirely of the bark of the juniper, lined with wool and hair. 

 On the 14th of June the females were sitting ; four eggs, 

 apparently, make a full clutch. 



These birds are very tame, and were often to be seen 

 sitting on the guy-ropes of my tent; when I took their eggs 

 they fearlessly attacked me. 



21. ACANTHIS FRINGILLIROSTRIS. 



Acanthis fringillirostris Sharpe, Cat. B. xii. p. 244. 



<J ? . Eastern Ferghana. 28 July, 1908. Nos. 532, 533. 



This was one of the few birds in my collection obtained 



