Pl'RUnOCOBAX. 



69 



The Indian bird seems to average miu'li larger than the Enghsh 

 tliougli not hirger tliau the Continental bird. 



Distribution. jN'orthern Africa, Europe and N. Asia. In India 

 it is found tliroughout the Himalayas to Eastern Tibet. 



Fig. 17. — Head of P. pyrrhocorax. 



Fig. 18. — Foot of P. pi/rrhocorax. 



Nidification. The Eed-billed Chough breeds freely in Tibet, 

 Ladakh and jN'ortliern Kashmir, breeding generally in cliff's, but, in 

 Tibet, frequently in the Tibetan houses and buildings whether 

 occupied or not. They are early breeders, laying in the end of 

 March and April and often having a second brood. The eggs are 

 like those of the English bird, but much duller and more brownish 

 in tint and they average much bigger, 4i*7 X 28'4 mm. against 

 40-7x27"9 mm. Whymper took its eggs at the end of April in 

 Garhwal at; 9,000 and 12,400 feet. The nests were of sticks 

 \vith wool lining, placed in clefts of rocks. 



