HEOULTTS. 345 



1882, p. 270; ,SVW///, 7/,/X l**l,p. 4.~,0; Unfair, Cat. B. M. viii, 

 p. 80 ; Gates, in Humes N. $ E. 2nd od. i, p. L>2:{. 

 Ilegulus himalayensis, tili/t/i, Jcrd. E. I. ii, p. 200 (18G3) ; StoliczJctt, 

 J. A. S. Ii. xxxvii, pt. 'ii, p. 47 ; Hume, N. fy E. p. 373 ; Brooks, 

 S. F. iii, p. 240. 



The Himalayan Fire-crest, Jerd. 



Coloration. Male. The lores and a space round the eye dull 

 white ; forehead and a broad supercilium, ear-coverts, and the 

 sides of the head and neck ashy ; sides of the crown broadly black 

 streaked with yellow, the two bands enclosing a flame-red patch on 

 the crown; hind neck and upper back ashy; upper plumage dull 

 green, yellowish on the rump ; tail brown edged with green ; 

 wings brown, all the feathers edged with green, the median and 

 greater coverts tipped with pale yellow, the later primaries and 

 the secondaries yellow at base, then black, the latter colour forming 

 a conspicuous patch ; later secondaries and tertiaries tipped with 

 whitish ; lower plumage pale buff to yellowish brown. 



Fig. 109. Head of R. crislatus. 



Female. Resembles the male, but has the patch on the crown 

 sulphur-yellow. 



The young have neither coronal patch nor streaks ; otherwise 

 they resemble the adult, the full plumage of which they assume 

 apparently in the first autumn. 



Bill black ; iris deep brown ; legs and claws dark brownish 

 green ; feet much paler (Hume). 



Length about 4 ; tail 1'5 ; wing 2-2 ; tarsus -65 ; bill from 

 gape -5. 



The Goldcrest of the Himalayas differs in no respect, so far as I 

 can see, from the Goldcrest of Europe. 



Distribution. Kashmir and the Himalayas to Sikhim. In summer 

 this species is found as high as 11,000 feet, but there is no record 

 of the lowest level to which it descends either in summer or winter. 

 Scully asserts that the Goldcrest is a summer visitor to Gilgit. It 

 is probable, therefore, that it winters in the lower valleys. 



The Goldcrest inhabits Europe and a considerable portion of 

 Asia. 



Jfabits, $r.. The nest of the Goldcrest appears to have been found 

 only once in the Himalayas. It was discovered at Eogi in the 

 Sutlej valley on the 8th June, and was placed at the end of a 

 deodar branch, eight feet from the ground. It contained seven 

 young birds. The nest was a deep pouch, made of lichens and 

 suspended from several twigs. The eggs of this bird are pinkish 

 white speckled with red, and measure about '56 by "42. 



