BIRDS OF THE UPPER ZONES. 91 



grosbeak {HespejHpJiona speniligcra ^), the latter pre- 

 ferring the juniper bushes, the berries of which are 

 its favourite food. 



In the alpine region we found the red-winged 

 wall-creeper {TicJwdroma miu^arid), for ever climb- 

 ing up the rocks ; a large species of Carpodacus with 

 a gay note, two alpine choughs [Fregilus alpinus, 

 Fregihis gracuhis), the martin {Chelidon sp.), the 

 velvety blue stonethrush {Grandala ccbHcoIo), the 

 mountain pipit [Ant/iics rosaceiis) and two kinds 

 of hedge-sparrows {^Accentor Nipalensis, A. rubecu- 

 loidcs), the former of Avhich is a great songster. A 

 little lower down, among the bushes Avere the beauti- 

 ful lesser titmouse {Lcptopoecile Sophue) of a metallic 

 violet hue, the deep pink Carpodacus riibicilla, Cal- 

 liope pectoj^alis, the reed- warbler {Sckcsnicola sp.), with 

 long pink tail feathers ; and in the open valleys the 

 linnet [Linota brezdrostris), Montifringilla Adamsi, 

 and Montifrilla sp. 



Among the ColumbcE and GallinacecB in the alpine 

 region we noticed the rock-dove {Columba rupcs- 

 trii) ; another kind of mountain-pigeon, the wary 

 Columba leuconota, among the wildest and most in- 

 accessible cliffs of the upper zone ; the great snow- 

 partridge [Megalopcrdix Tkibelamcs), called Ktuwio 

 by the Tangutans, and Hailik by the Mongols. Not 

 far off, in the clumps of rhododendron and caragana, 

 the dusky Impeyan grouse {Tetraophasis obsciirus) 

 and partridge {Perdix sp.), distinct from the Mongol 

 species. In the lower tree-belt the gallinaceous 



* //. catneipcs, Hodgs. 



