87 



6500 ft. even up to nearly 9000 ft., but has not been known to breed on 

 the Jura. In Italy it is tolerably numerous on the Alpine chain from 

 Liguria to Venetia, and has been observed at various points on the 

 Apennines, as far south as Gran Sasso. In the Balkan peninsula it is 

 found in Montenegro and probably in other mountainous districts, while in 

 Greece Reiser identified this species on the Korax and Kiona at about 

 6000 ft. in 1894. [In Palestine a few pairs of this race, or perhaps the 

 Caucasian form, are found on Hermon and the Lebanon.] One specimen 

 has been recorded from Sussex {Bull. B. 0. C, XV, p. 58). 



In uninhabited districts the nest is built in crevices of rocks and Nest. 

 cliffs which are free from snow, but where buildings and stone walls exist, 

 many nests are to be found underneath the eaves or in holes in walls. 

 The nest is rather bulky, built chiefly of dry grass; together with tufts 

 of hair, wool, leaves, wood-shavings and a few feathers; lined with feathers 

 of Ptarmigan, woven together with horsehair, etc. External diameter 8^ in., 

 diameter of cup SI in. (S. B. Wilson). The Hospices on the S. Bernard, 

 Simplon, Grimsel, and S. Gothard are all inhabited by several pairs of 

 these birds. 



Vary in number usually from 4 to 5, but 6 are occasionally found. Eggs. 

 They are pure white, regular oval in shape, somewhat thin shelled and 

 with little gloss. 



According to Fatio the first clutches are to be found at the end of Breeding 

 April or the beginning of May, and a second brood is often reared towards 

 the end of June or in August. On the S. Gothard S. B. Wilson found 

 nearly hatched young on June 16, and of 5 nests examined none contained 

 eggs on May 27, so that here the eggs are apparently laid about the 

 beginning of June, which corresponds with nesting dates from various 

 localities. In the Pyrenees H. M. Wallis was of opinion that nesting had 

 not begun on June 21. These observations tend to show that in some 

 localities at any rate, only one brood is reared as a rule. 



Average of 62 eggs (25 measured by Rey and 37 by the writer) Measure- 

 from the Alps, 23.42 X 16.96 mm., Max. 25.5X18.1 and 25X18.2 mm., '°*°*'- 

 Min. 21 X 16 and 21.5 X 15.3 mm. Average weight (25 eggs) 225 mg., 

 varying from 210 to 230 mg. (Rey). 



Geographical Races. 



a. Alpiue Snowfinch, M. nivalis nivalis (L.). See above, 

 b. Caucasian Snowfinch, M. nivalis alpicola (Pall.). 



Montifringilla alpicola (Pall.). Dresser, Birds of Europe, IX, p. 187; 

 id. Man. Pal. Birds, p. 298. M. nivalis alpicola (Pall.). Hartert, Vog. 

 Pal. Fauna, p. 133. 



