52 PET BIRDS OF BENGAL 



in the hill-ranges of the Punjab and the N. 

 W. Frontier Province that Oates is inclined 

 to differentiate it from the Siberian species 

 which differs in the depth of its black and 

 red colours. At all events, during winter, 

 birds of this species populate the whole of 

 Northern India as far south as Belgaum. 

 Further south, its existence has not been 

 noted, but Hume says it has been 

 Distnbu- reported common in south-west 

 Mysore. It is commonly met 

 with in Bengal in winter. Two of the 

 birds in my aviary were caught within a few 

 miles from Calcutta. In summer the Kher- 

 Piddah is found throughout the Himalayas 

 from Afghanistan to Assam up to an 

 elevation of 5,500 feet. It nests also in 

 the Salt-Ranges, the Suleiman hills, in 

 the plains skirting these hills, and in the 

 valleys of the Sutlej and the Beas. 



It breeds in April and May and has 

 probably more than one brood in the year. 

 The situation of the nest varies according 

 to locality. It may be found in some low 



