Birds of the Zarafschaii Basin. 453 



The Wall-Creeper is very common in the plains of Samar- 

 kand and in the rocky foot-hills in winter : it is much less 

 often seen in summer. 



53. SlTTA TEPHRONOTA. 



Sitta tephronota Sharpe, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 4, x. 

 p. 450. 



S . Hills near Samarkand. 11-15 Oct., 1907. Nos. 76, 



77. 

 <J. ,, „ „ 25 April, 1 June, 1908. 



Nos. 357, 503, 504. 

 ? . „ „ „ 19 April, 1908. No. 345. 



? . Hissar Mts. 20 June, 1908. No. 587. 

 Sex doubtful. Hills near Samarkand. 15 Oct., 1907. 

 No. 76. 



This Nuthatch is a very common resident in the rocky 

 foot-hills between 3000 and 7000 ft., but rarely goes above 

 this altitude. On one occasion I found it at 8000 ft. It 

 breeds at the end of April. 



54. Regulus himalayensis. 



Regulus himalayensis Gadow, Cat. B. viii. p. 81. 



S . Samarkand. 4 Nov.-19 Dec, 1907. Nos. 185, 156, 

 157, 236. 



? . Samarkand. 16 Nov.-19 Dec., 1907. Nos. 186, 237. 



This Gold-Crest is a winter visitor to the Vale of Samar- 

 kand ; its summer haunts are probably the forests of the 

 Tian Shan Mts. 



55. Leptopoecile sophi^. 



Leptopmcile sophice Gadow, Cat. B. viii. p. 86. 



c? • Hissar Mts. 14-24 June, 1908. Nos. 530 ; 572, 573, 

 574, 583. 



? . Hissar Mts. 18 June, 1908. No. 538. 



This bird is peculiar to the juniper-groves at 8000 and 

 9000 ft. in the mountains, and is generally found in small 

 flocks. 



It must breed very early, for on the 18th of June the 

 young were fully fledged and flying about. I could not 



