MONTIFRINGILLA 299 



Hob. The Caucasus ranging east through Persia and Afghan- 

 istan to eastern Turkestan at altitudes above 10,000 feet in 

 summer, descending to 4,000 to 5,000 feet in winter. In 

 habits, note, and mode of nidification it does not differ from M. 

 nivalis. 



437. ADAMS' SNOW-FINCH. 

 MONTIFRINGILLA ADAMSI. 



Montifnnffilla adamsi, Moore, MS. Adams, P.Z.S. 1858, p. 482., 1859, 

 p. 178, pi. 156 ; Gould, B. of As. v. pi. 1 ; David and Oust. Ois. 

 Chine, p. 547 ; Sliarpe, Cat, B. Br. Mus. xii. p. 261 j Gates, F. Brit. 

 Incl. Birds, ii. p. 246. 



ad. (Himalayas). Differs from M. alpicola in having the crown and 

 nape, lesser and median wing-coverts brown, the larger coverts brown, 

 tipped with white, the secondaries blackish brown, broadly terminated 

 with white on the inner web, the innermost like the back, and the throat, 

 black, but concealed by whitish edges to the feathers ; bill and legs black ; 

 iris brown. Culmen 0*5, wing 4'4, tail 2 '85, tarsus 0'8 inch. Sexes alike. 

 In the winter the bill is yellow, dusky on the culmen, brown at the tip. 



Hob. The higher regions of the Himalayas, Kashmir, Ladak, 

 Kulu, and Gilgit, east to Sikhim ; Kashgar and Tibet, in 

 summer at altitudes of from 11,000 to 14,000 feet. 



It is common on bare and barren mountains, feeding on the 

 seeds of the few plants found in these desolate regions. Its call- 

 note is like that of a Lark. Its nest is constructed of grass 

 and is generally placed in the long dykes, built by the Tartars 

 over their dead, but I do not find any description of its eggs. 



438. MANDELLI'S SNOW-FINCH. 

 MONTIFRINGILLA MANDELLII. 



Montifringilla mandellii, Hume, Str. Feath. iv. p. 488 (1876) ; Sharpe, 

 Cat. B. Br. Mus. xii. p. 262 ; Onychospiza taczanowskii, Prjev. Mongol 

 i Strana Tangut. ii. p. 81, tab. xi. fig. 1 (1876) ; David and Oust. 

 Ois. Chine, p. 548 (1877). 



ad. Forehead and supercilium white ; crown and nape earthy brown ; 

 a somewhat indistinct, dull, greyish white collar ; back dark earth-brown, 

 striped with dull white ; rump white ; upper tail-coverts pale fawn-brown ; 

 quills brown, margined with white, secondaries broader, margined with 

 dull white and pale fawn ; wing-coverts broadly tipped with white ; under 

 parts white ; lores and region round the eye black ; bill horn-colour, 

 darker at the tip ; legs black ; iris brown. Culmen 0'5, wing 4*1, tail 2'7, 

 tarsus 0'9 inch. Sexes alike. 



