A.CCEKTOB. 



In-own, with indistinct darker slreaks : back dark brown, edged 

 \\illi rufous-brown: mini) and upper tail-COVerta pale rufous, \\ ill i 

 I>laeki>li >haH-shvaks : lesser \\ ing-coverts greyish hrown ; all the 

 oilier coverts blackish, tipped with white ; scapulars and tertiaries 

 black, edged with ferruginous; the other quills dark brown, 



Fig. 43. Head of A. 



narro\\]y edged and tipped with rufous; tail dark brown, each 

 inner web tipped with a spot, which is white on the outer feathers 

 and gradually turns to rufous on the inner ; chin and throat white 

 barred with black; sides of head, sides of neck, and the breast 

 greyish brown ; the region of the eye speckled with white ; middle 

 of the abdomen rufous-grey, barred with white and brown ; under 

 tail-coverts chestnut-brown, broadly edged with white; sides of 

 body and flanks dark ferruginous, some of the feathers near the 

 thighs narrowly margined with white. 



Ease of upper mandible from nostril to gape, the gape, and base 

 of lower mandible bright yellow ; rest of bill black ; iris very dark 

 brow*n ; legs and feet very pale reddish brown, almost fleshy 

 (Hume). 



Length about 7 ; tail 2'8 ; wing 4 ; tarsus '95 ; bill from gape 

 65. 



This species is allied to the European A. collaris, from which it 

 differs in being very richly coloured, and in having the second 

 primary equal to or shorter than the sixth, whereas in A. collaris 

 the second primary is much longer than the sixth. A. nepalensis 

 has, moreover, few white margins on the flanks, and is not so much 

 barred beneath. Gilgit examples of A. nepalensis are paler than 

 typical birds, but do not otherwise differ. Afghan specimens are 

 still paler, and in Asia Minor an intermediate race is found. A. 

 nijilatus, Severtzow, from Turkestan, appears to me to be identical 

 with A. nepalensis. A. erythropygius, Swinhoe, from China, differs 

 from the present species in having very rufous upper tail-coverts, 

 and is doubtfully distinct. 



ttintrilntt'nni. The ]Iiinalayas from Afghanistan and Gilgit to 

 Sikhim, at very high elevations, Blanford recording this species 

 from 11, <><!<) feet. I have seen sptrinicns from Sikhim killed in 

 every month of the year, but in Gilgit this Accentor is represented 

 to be merely a \\inter visitor. 



