NUCIFRAGA, 67 
Distribution. The Himalayas from the extreme N.W., Nepal, 
Sikkim, Bhutan into Tibet. Its distribution still requires a 
considerable amount of consideration as it seems to overlap in 
many places with the next. 
Nidification. Hume took its nest with young in May near 
Simla, 6,500 feet, and Mr. A. E. Jones found a nest with young 
and one addled egg in April in the same district, whilst Whymper 
took nest and eggs in Garhwal 16.5,06 at 10,500 feet. The 
nests are described as being like neat Crows’ nests but with a 
thick lining of fir-needles and grass. ‘T'wo clutches of eggs were 
ebtained for me in Tibet on 30.4.20, both of which were second 
layings after the first had been destroyed. The two clutches con- 
tained three and four eggs, but all were unfortunately broken except 
one. This, and the eggs taken by Messrs. Jones and Whymper are 
similar in character to those of the European bird, except that 
they are duller pale sea-green in colour and have much larger 
blotches of clive-sienna and neutral tint. 
My egg measures 35:0 x 26-0 mm. 
Habits. This bird keeps much to forests of pine, cedar and fir 
between 3,000 and 12,000 feet, and subsists largely on the seeds 
of these trees ; but they also eat other seeds and fruits as well as 
insects. Though not regularly gregarious, they are said sometimes 
to collect in small parties. Their notes are harsh and loud. 
Fig. 16.—Head of \V. multipunctata. 
* (47) Nucifraga multipunctata. 
Tie Larcer-seorrep NurcrackeEr. 
Nucifraga multipunctata Gould, P.Z.S., 1849, p. 23 (N.W. Hima- 
layas); Blanf. & Oates, i, p. 41. 
Vernacular names. Ahak-kharra (Pushtu); Yong-she-sha-ga 
(Tibetan). 
Description. Differs from the Himalayan Nutcracker in being 
darker, a chocolate rather than an umber-brown, and in being much 
more profusely marked with white. The lores and narial bristles 
are white or black and white; the rump and upper tail-coverts 
have a white spot on each feather; the wing-coverts and quills are 
F2 
