176 Capt. Beavan on various Indian Birds. 



Bill reddish-brown ; upper mandible darker^ overlapping the 

 lower at the tip j legs dark reddish-brown ; claws nearly black. 



725. Hesperiphona tcteroides, Black-and-yellow Grosbeak. 



I saw this species for the first time, and obtained specimens, 

 at Fagoo, fifteen miles from Simla, in August 1866. It fre- 

 quents the tops of the highest pine-trees, and, as stated by Dr. 

 Adams (P. Z. S. 1859, p. 178), the call-note is "loud and plain- 

 tive,'^ and can only be described as a loud rolling " tree,'' some- 

 what drawn out. Several may be heard at the same time calling 

 to each other. Though apparently abundant about Fagoo, one 

 does not often see the bird, in spite of the brilliant plumage 

 of the male ; they sit so still and quiet. I shot one male on a 

 low bush, near the ground, on the Hindoostan and Thibet 

 road, not far from Fagoo. The bill in both sexes is pale sea- 

 green; irides brown, and legs flesh-colour. Dimensions as 

 follows : — 



Tail. Tarsus. Bill. Spread foot. Extent. 

 3-875 1 -9375 1-875 14-5 



3-5 1 -9375 1-875 14 



727. Mycerobas melanoxanthus. Spotted-winged Gros- 

 beak. 



This is a very peculiar-looking bird, the head, with its enor- 

 mously massive bill, giving it a top-heavy appearance. Irides 

 dark brown ; bill and legs bluish lead -colour, darker at the 

 base and tip of the upper mandible and on the claws. Dimen- 

 sions : — 



This species frequents the "holly-trees " {Ilex) which abound 

 in the partial clearings on the hillsides, but is apparently 

 scarcer than the preceding. Dr. Jerdon's English name is scarcely 

 appropriate; for there is no spotted appearance except in the 

 lower parts of the female, a transverse white bar across the wing 

 of the male hardly giving the idea of a " spot." 



729. Pyrrhula erythrocephala. Red-headed Bullfinch. 

 Darjeeling collection, 1862. Three specimens. 



