74 Major J. Biddulph on the Birds of Gilyit. 



the pale demicollar less marked, and the black of nape and 

 throat show no signs of coalescing ; but tlie yellow tint of the 

 undersurface is disappearing, and the wings and tail (which 

 are fully developed) are coloured as in the adult. There is no 

 intermediate stage represented in the collection, but as the 

 green-backed bird is never found in winter, there can be no 

 doubt that it is the immature phase of P. nipalensis, which 

 is the commonest bird in Gilgit. 



This is the only bird that does not appear to make any 

 seasonal change in its habits in this locality. 



129. Accentor nipalensis, Hodgson. 



This Accentor was extremely common during the winter 

 of 1877-78. It was generally met within scattered flocks of 

 fifteen or twenty, and seemed to prefer keeping to the vicinity 

 of water. It was very bold, allowing one to come quite close, 

 while it hopped unconcernedly about searching for worms &c. 

 Occasional specimens seemed much ligliter-coloured than the 

 generality. All the specimens obtained were shot in Decem- 

 ber, January, and February. 



The sexes are coloured alike. 



130. Accentor altaicus, Brandt. 



During the severe winter of 1877-78 several flocks of this 

 Accentor appeared ; but it was never very common. It was 

 generally in compact flocks of twenty or thirty, keeping to 

 the hill-sides, and not very easy to approach. The flight is 

 very rapid; and, like most of the Accentors, it appears very 

 Finch-like in its habits, approaching in this respect especially 

 to the genus Montifringilla. The measurements given by 

 Jerdon are apparently those of a female. In the adult male 

 the wing measures 3f inches and the tail 2^. Irides cherry- 

 red. The ear-coverts are fulv^ous, the interscapulary region 

 and tertiaries black with broad rufous margins ; lower back 

 dingy grey. The wing-coverts are more or less tipped with 

 white, as in A. nipalensis, forming two conspicuous but ir- 

 regular wing-bars ; the under tail-coverts are brown, broadly 

 margined with white. Chin white, the feathers of the throat 

 and fore neck white with black tips. 



