446 Mr. Douglas Carruthers on the 



outside the Zarafschan Valley. I saw a few at 4000 ft. on 

 the western declivities of the Ak-sai Plateau, which is the 

 extreme south-west corner of the Tian Shan Range. 



22. ACANTHIS BREVIROSTRIS. 



Acanthis brevirostris Sharpe, Cat. B. xii. p. 238. 

 S . Samarkand. 3 Jan., 1908. No. 263. 

 Small flocks of this bird were seen on one occasion on the 

 open steppe in mid-winter. 



23. MYCEROBAS CARNE1PES. 



Pycnorhamphus carneipes Sharpe, Cat. B. xii. p. 47. 



<J. Hissar Mts. 18 June, 1908. No. 563. 



$. „ 18-23 June, 1908. Nos. 564, 565, 594. 



This is a rare bird in the Zarafschan district, chiefly on 

 account of the absence of forests. At 9500 ft. there were 

 a few to be found in the juniper-groves. They were exceed- 

 ingly wild and shy. On the wing they resemble a Hawfinch 

 in flight. 



24. Passer indicus. 



Passer indicus Sharpe, Cat. B. xii. p. 311. 



<J . Samarkand. 3 May, 1908. Nos. 414, 415, 416. 



The distribution of this House-Sparrow in TurKestan is 

 interesting. Formerly it was only found along the Post- 

 roads, the common House- Sparrow of the towns being Passer 

 montanus. But, apparently, P. indicus is extending its range 

 and will perhaps eventually drive out P. montanus. P. indicus 

 is now to be seen in the towns mixed up with flocks of 

 P. montanus. 



In out-of-the-way mountain valleys P. indicus breeds in 

 the trees, but in villages where P. montanus is absent, it 

 utilises the native houses. 



25. Passer montanus. 



Passer montanus Sharpe, Cat. B. xii. p. 301. 



£ . Samarkand. 4 Nov., 1907. No. 155. 

 Imm. <? ■ Samarkand. 11 Sept., 1907. No. 32. 

 Imm. (sex doubtful). Samarkand. 11 Sept., 1907. No. 33. 



? . Samarkand. 30 Oct., 4 Nov., 1907. Nos. 149, 154. 



