THE ALPINE ACCENTOR. 487 



Characters and allied forms. — P. c. subalpina (Greece, Balkans) 

 has paler and greyer upper -parts and paler chestnut flanks ; P. c. 

 caucasica (Caucasus, Asia iVIinor) much like P. c. collaris, but upper- 

 13arts paler and less streaked but not so grey as in P. c. subalpina ; 

 P. c. ritfilata (Turkestan) much like P. c. caucasica but chestnut 

 of sides of breast and flanks more uniform and more extensive 

 M'hite edgings of feathers being narrow ; P. c. tibetana (eastern 

 Tibet) is more like typical form but has rump rusty-brown and 

 upper tail-coverts with considerable amount of chestnut ; P. c. 

 erythropygia (Ja.pan, east Siberia, north China) is like last but 

 much darker ; P. c. nijiolensis (Himalayas) is still darker and 

 feathers of mantle have rufous-brown edgings ; P. c. ripjioni 

 (Yunnan) much like last but upper-parts very dark grey, not so 

 brown and edgings of feathers of mantle, rump and upper tail- 

 coverts not so rufous-brown. Spotteel chin and throat and double 

 row of white spots on wing-coverts distinguish the species. 



Fleld-characters.^ — A most retiring, quiet species, frequently 

 overlooked even at close quarters owing to its unobtrusive habits 

 and leisurely creejjing movements, which are akin to those of 

 Hedge -Accentor. Plumage is more distinctive and handsome than 

 pictures jirepare one for, though harmonizing wonderfully with 

 bare rock and stones. In the Pyrenees and Alps can usually be 

 found just below the snow-line. The young are clamorous and 

 reveal their presence, and when feathered will leave the nest in a 

 "stream" if disturbed. The parent is excessively solicitous, and 

 even before an egg is laid, will reveal the nest by walking up to 

 and around it in one's presence. (H. M. Wallis.) 



Breeding-habits. — Met with at high elevations. Nest. — Generally 

 in cleft of rock often sheltered by low scrub, but occasionally among 

 branches of small firs ; built of bents, moss, roots, and a few lichens 

 and feathers, lining chiefly moss, but according to some writers also 

 hair. Eggs. — 4-5, rarely 6, joale blue. Average of 68 eggs, 23.2 X 

 16.5 mm. Breeding-season. — From beginning of June onward. 

 Said to be double brooded. 



Food. — Consists largely of spiders ; also insects, coleoptera 

 {Curculio, Elater, Scajjhidema, Felonia, etc.), orthoptera (Forficida), 

 hymenoptera (ants and larvae), and diptera. Naumann includes 

 small snails. Seeds and berries of many plants and bushes also 

 taken. 



Distribution. — Great Britain. — Twenty obtained or satisfactorily 

 identified between Aug. and Jan. (once in March) in following 

 counties: Cornwall (1), Devon (4), Somerset (1), Gloucester (1), 

 Hants. (1), Surrey (1), Sussex (2), Essex (1), Cambs. (2), Suffolk (2), 

 Yorks. (1), Warwick (1), Carnarvon (1), Fair Isle (Shetlands) (1). 



