Major J. Biddulpli on the Birds of Gilyit. 73 



Compeared with Blyth's type (which comes from Simla), the 

 nuchal spot is less rufous, in some specimens being almost 

 entirely white. 



128. Parus nipalensis, Hodgs.* 



All the specimens procured are paler on the nape ; in some 

 the edging to the black is albescent, but not any thing like a 

 semicollar. Specimens from Murree cannot be separated 

 from Gilgit birds. 



Many show a vinaceous tinge on the white of the abdomen. 

 Nestlings and young birds are strongly tinged with yellowish 

 green. 



The birds from Gilgit are similar to the type found in the 

 Himalayas as far east as Nepal, at all events ; but they are 

 considerably larger than the type found in the plains, and 

 lack the distinct white marking on the nape, whether spot or 

 semicollar. 



Measurements given in ' Stray Feathers,' vol. ii. p. 417, 

 by Ball, from Chota Nagpore, are — wing 2'^ inches in one, 

 ,2'5 in another. Sex not mentioned. 



Also ' Stray Feathers,' vol. i. p. 384, by Adam, from 

 Sambur Lake — wing 2*6 inches. Sex not mentioned. 



Jerdon gives measurements as 2'8 inches. A male from 

 Murree measures (by my measuring) 2"9 ; and those procured 

 at Gilgit measure 2*97 in the males and 2'7 in the females. 



The young birds are green on the back, the undersurface 

 pale yellow ; the black markings are dull, with a brownish 

 tinge and no gloss whatever, similar in extent to those of the 

 adults on the upper surface, but beneath confined to a stripe 

 from the chin towards the abdomen, not coalescing with the 

 black on the upper surface, the sides of the face and neck 

 being also pale yellow. In the nestling just fledged (killed in 

 June) there is a well-defined pale yellow demicollar on the 

 nape, beneath the black. In a rather older bird (killed in 

 August) the back is still green, the black without gloss, and 



* [Mr. Blanford has also pointed out that the birds of this species 

 found on the Nilgiris are larger than specimens obtained in the plains 

 (J. A. S. B. 1869, part ii. p. 181).— J. S.] 



