Ornithology of Gilgit. 439 



neighbouring valleys to the south. The bird, a young male, 

 is profusely spotted, but has the minor coverts blue and the tail 

 edged with the same colour. Length 7*25 inches, wing 3*95, 

 tail 2"7, tarsus 0*95, bill from gape 1 ; bill dusky, gape pale 

 yellow. 



65. MoNTicoLA sAXATiLis (Linn.). 



Common in Gilgit, on migration, from the 20th August to 

 the 30th September. The adults seem to make no stay in 

 the district ; all the birds observed and shot are immature. 

 In thirteen specimens, in immature barred and spotted plu- 

 mage, the wings vary from 4*7 to 4'9 inches. 



67. Merula atrogularis (Temra.), 



This species is common at an elevation of about 5000 feet 

 from the first week in October to the middle of May. In 

 thirteen examples from Gilgit the wings vary in length from 

 4*9 to 5"3 inches. My specimens do not bear out Major 

 Biddulph^s observation that when the black on the throat is 

 fully assumed the axillaries and under wing-coverts become 

 earth-brown uniform Avith the flanks. 



68. TuRDus viscivoRUs, Linn. 



I only met with this Thrush in the Gilgit district in sum- 

 mer, at elevations of over 9000 feet, where it breeds. My 

 specimens agree perfectly in colour with examples from Asia 

 Minor. An adult bird has the Aving 6*45, and a young bird, 

 shot on the 28th July, has the wing 6*15. 



69. Trochaloptekum simile, Hume. 



This fine species is, with us, singularly local. I never saw 

 it in Gilgit, but it is common and a permanent resident in 

 Sharot and Bargo, 15 miles higher up the valley, at an eleva- 

 tion of about 5500 feet. It is only found in places densely 

 covered with trees and bushes. In eleven specimens the 

 wing varies in length from 4 to 4'25 inches ; all these have 

 the outer webs of the quills and the subterminal band on the 

 tail pure grey, without any shade of yellow, red, or olive. 

 The ear-coverts are ashy, not dark brown ; the grey band on 

 the uropygials varies in depth from 1 inch to 1*2, and this 



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