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(114) Sitta kashmiriensis. 

 BROOKS'S NUTHATCH. 



Sitta kashmiriensis Brooks, P. A. S. B., 1871, p. 279 (Kashmir) ; 

 Blanf. & Gates, i, p. 303. 



Vernacular names. None recorded. 



Description. Upper plumage and wings slaty-blue; the usual 

 black band through the eye ; chin and sides of the face dull white 

 tinged with fulvous ; throat more fulvous, the lower plumage 

 gradually becoming deeper and turning to deep chestnut on the 

 abdomen, flanks and under tail-coverts ; middle tail-feathers ashy- 

 blue, the next two pairs black edged and tipped with ashy; the 

 next two black with a subterminal white spot on the inner web ; 

 the outermost feather black, with a white patch on each web and 

 a brown tip ; under wing-coverts blackish with the usual white 

 primary patch ; under tail-coverts chestnut with traces of ashy 

 centres. 



Colours of soft parts. Iris red or red-brown ; bill slaty-grey 

 with black tip and paler base ; legs greenish brown, yellowish 

 brown or dull grey-brown. 



Measurements. Length about 130 mm. : wing 81 to 85 mm. ; 

 tail about 40 to 44 mm.; tarsus about 18 mm.; culmen about 

 18 to 19 mm. 



Distribution. Himalayas, Afghanistan to Garhwal. 



Nidification. This bird breeds in some numbers throughout 

 Kashmir and in the Murree Galis. It selects holes in forest-trees 

 at all heights from the ground, plastering up the entrance with 

 the usual hard clay masonry and laying its eggs in April and May. 

 These number four to seven and are quite typical. Fifty eggs 

 average about 19'7 X 10'4 mm. 



Habits. Those of the genus. This is a forest bird, haunting 

 rather deep forest at heights between 6,000 and 9,000 feet, 

 straggling both lower in the cold and higher in the hot weather. 

 Whitehead found it fairly common in the Safed Koh between 

 7,500 and 10,000 feet. 



(115) Sitta magna. 

 THE GIANT NUTHATCH. 



Sitta mayna "Wardl.-Eamsay, P. Z. &'., 1876, p. 677 (Karenuee) ; 

 Blanf. & Gates, i, p. 303. * 



Vernacular names. None recorded. 



Description. Upper plumage, wings and central pair of tail- 

 feathers slaty-blue ; two broad bands of black from the base of the 

 bill through the eyes to the shoulders ; two pairs of tail-feathers 

 next the central pair black with a slaty-blue tip, the next two the 

 same with a subterminal white patch and the outermost the same 

 but with a white bar on the outer web; lores, sides of the 



