202 THE BIRDS OF SIKHIM. 



A few words are "necessary regarding the list which is here pre- 

 sented in tabular form. The data therein given 

 afford information regarding both the horizontal 

 and vertical distribution. The order of enumeration is that of Gates' 

 " Birds of India " in the new fauna series for British India. As, however, 

 the 3rd volume of that work has not yet issued, the remaining birds 

 are catalogued according to Jerdon's treatise. The figui-es therefore 

 in column No. 1 of the table represents the serial number of Gates 

 and Jerdon respectively: Jerdon having been fii'st taken up, as he 

 coromences with the Raptores or Ends of Prey. 



The Lepcha vernacular name are given as far as possible. Jerdon 

 gave many of these, and they are very valuable, as 



Vemacular names. P • -,1 xi, x i- i j.- j; l-u 



bemg either the onomatopoetic reproductions ot the 

 call of the bird, or a descriptive title of some peculiarity in regard to 

 its appearance or habits. The names were noted down by me direct 

 from the Lepchas and occasionally they differ from those of Jerdon. 

 It may be noted generally that the Lepcha prefix dang means " hot " and 

 Hho means "cool hill" with reference to the habitat of the bird, kanda 

 means crested, nok = black, dum = white, hir = red, paoyor = yel- 

 low, foiiff = green, tl ^ a contraction for tiak or head, lone/ = stone, 

 kiing = wood, bong = tree-trunk, fat = earth, and nuff = water, and 

 after each name is added the word fo or " bnd." The Pahariyas, 

 speaking a Sanskritic dialect — the Parbatiya, and the Bhotiyas, includ- 

 ing the Tibetans, are much less discriminating in then- bird-names 

 than the Lepchas, who are "born naturalists"; but some of their names 

 also are given, especially in regard to tbose birds frequenting the zones 

 below and above that inhabited by the Lepchas. 



The column showing " number of specimens " indicates in a general 

 „ .^ ., ■ way the rarity or otherwise of the species. Where 



Earity or otherwise. •' , .-' , -, .. ii j_ ii i 



no number is entered, it means that though seen 

 none were secured. 



In order to render the list more complete, I have added such cases, 



as I could find, of the recorded presence of species, 



Inclusion of former ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^ actually secured or seen by me ; such 



records. . _ J J '„ , 



species are put m brackets, and the names of the 

 reporters are given. 



In regard to vertical distribution it must be remembered "that a 



j^ given altitude in Ujjper Sikliim in proximity to the 



snows, represents a greater degi-ee of cold than the 



same altitude in the outer ranges. It is remarkable how limited is the 



range of many of the species, notwithstanding their excellent means 



of locomotion. 



To facilitate reference to the position of the collecting stations I 



. here indicate roughly the locale of some of the chief 



ec mg 3 a ons. ^^ these, and where different altitudes are given for 



