LOPHOPHANES 181 



or using an old woodpecker's or any convenient hole, but it has 

 been known to construct a nest not unlike that of a wren. The 

 nest is usually constructed of grass, moss, wool, and feathers, 

 and the eggs, 5 or 6 in number, are white, rather boldly spotted 

 and blotched with bright red, measuring about 0'65 by 0*50. 



266. HIMALAYAN CRESTED TITMOUSE. 

 LOPHOPHANES RUFINUCHALIS. 



Lophophanes rufinuchalis, (Blytli), J. A. S. Beng. xviii. p. 810 (1849) ; 

 (Gadow), Cat. B. Br. Mus. viii. p. 29 ; Gates, F. Brit. Ind. Birds, i. 

 p. 58 ; (Gould), B. of Asia, ii. pi. CO. 



Ad. (Himalayas). Crown, hind neck, throat and breast glossy black, 

 the crown with a long recurved crest ; sides of the head below the eye, 

 sides of neck, and nuchal patch white ; upper parts bluish grey with a 

 buff tinge ; wings and tail dark ashy grey margined with bluish grey, 

 secondaries and wing-coverts unspotted ; under parts below the breast 

 clear bluish grey ; the sides of the breast, axillaries, and under wing- and 

 tail-coverts rusty red ; bill blackish ; legs plumbeous ; iris brown. 

 Culmen 0'5, wing 2 '9, tail 2'28, tarsus 0'8 inch. Sexes alike. 



Hob. Samarcand, Afghanistan, Turkestan, and Himalayas. 



It inhabits the mountains from 7,000 to 12,000 feet altitude 

 in summer, descending to 5,000 feet in winter. It breeds in 

 the pine forests of Gilgit, and its nest has been found under a 

 large stone, but its eggs are undescribed. 



267. SUBSP. LOPHOPHANES BEAVANI. 



Lophophanes beavani, Blyth, Jerd. B. of Ind. ii. p. 275 (1863) ; (Gadow), 

 Cat. B. Br. Mus. vii. p. 29 ; Gates, F. Brit. Ind. Birds, i. p. 59. 



ad. (Sikhiin). Resembles L. nifinuchalis, differing in having the 

 upper parts rather darker and clearer blue and the black on the throat 

 extending much less further down, only to the upper breast, rest of the 

 under parts blue-grey tinged with buff. The young bird has the black on the 

 throat duller and gradually merging into the grey of the rest of the under 

 parts. Culmen 0'48, wing 27, tail 2'0, tarsus 0*75 inch. Sexes alike. 



Sab. Nepal, Sikhim, Koko-nor mountains in Mongolia, and 

 Tsinling and S. Chensi in China. 



Like the preceding species it inhabits the mountains at 

 considerable elevations, and is found in the pine-woods. 



