524 Mr. II. P. Withcrby— Ornithological 



21. Montifringilla alpicola (Pall.) ; Blanf. t. c. p. 248. 

 367. ? ; 272. S ; 378. S ad. May 28th & 29th, Gardan- 



i-Bijan, Kuh-i-Dinar (9000 ft. to 10,000 ft.). 



My birds are rather pale on the upper parts. In two of 

 the specimens ( $ and $ ) the bases of both mandibles are 

 of a deep yellow and the tips black, while in the third 

 specimen ( $ ) the whole bill is black. The bill of this 

 species is usually yellow in winter, like that of M. nivalis, 

 but Dr. Blanford's two specimens obtained in the north of 

 Persia in February had black bills. 



This Snow-Finch was seen only on May 27th or 28th on 

 the pass over the Dinar range. On both sides of this pass near 

 the top, and not at a lower altitude than 9000 ft., there 

 were a few pairs hopping about on the patches of snow or 

 upon the rocks near the snow. On the wing the birds appear 

 to be white, but, when stationary, the pale brown back exactly 

 matches the rocks. They were shy and difficult to get, 

 because by flitting up the mountain-side they could reach a 

 place in a moment which would take their pursuer perhaps 

 half an hour's climb to gain. They seemed to examine the 

 snow industriously for food, but what they obtained I 

 could not ascertain. A female had a bare incubating spot 

 on the breast and the testes of one of the males were much 

 enlarged. 



22. Rhodospiza obsoleta (Licht.). 

 Erythrosjiiza obsoleta Licht. ; Blanf. t. c. p. 252. 



249. $ ad. April 2Gth, Plateau near Dasht-i-arjau 

 (7000 ft.). 



A pair of these very beautiful Pinches was found amongst 

 some willow trees on a plateau (7000 ft.) north-east of Dasht- 

 i-arjan. We did not see the bird elsewhere. 



23. Ammomanes deserti Licht. ; Blanf. t. c. p. 245. 

 53,460,463. Ad.; 449. Juv. 



These specimens agree with typical birds from Egypt. 



Desert-Larks were seen only at comparatively low altitudes 

 (below 3000 ft.) . They were fairly common near the coast, 

 and I found a nest with four fresh eggs in a niche in a rock 

 on a hill at Kamarij (2700 ft.) on March :50th. 



