08 Capt. H. J. Walton on the 



Nos. 1769, 1801. S ^1^ 1802 - ? adult. Khamba Jong, 

 15 3 200 feet, Nov. 6, 30, 1903. 



Nos. 1876. S; 1880, 1885. ? adult. Tuna, 15,000 feet, 

 Feb. 8-22, 1904. 



No. 1983. <J adult. Nagartse, 13,000 feet, July 20, 1904. 



This bird was very common on the bare tracts of land, 

 but was never seen where there was cultivation. It usually 

 occurred in small parties of five or six ; when disturbed each 

 bird went off separately, but the party re-formed almost at 

 once. It is not at all noisy, but occasionally utters a low 

 whistling note. I saw large numbers of these birds daily for 

 many months and never heard them make anything at all 

 resembling the " harsh reiterated Woodpecker-like cries" 

 mentioned by Mr. A. H. Evans (Cambr. Nat. Hist., Birds, 

 p. 558). 



The bird probes the ground with its curved bill like a 

 Hoopoe, and runs with great swiftness. It is fond of 

 perching on stones or mounds of earth, and has the curious 

 habit of bobbing up and down like a Dipper on first alighting. 

 The flight is very weak and laboured, and the bird rarely 

 rises more than two or three feet above the level of the 

 ground. In winter it frequently enters the burrows of a 

 mouse-hare (Lagomys curzonice). I failed to find any nests. 



The plumage is very lax and hair-like, and it is difficult 

 to prepare a good skin. Although I did not see any examples 

 of this species actually within Sikhim limits, it was quite 

 common within a mile of the top of the Kangra Lama Pass. 

 4-6. Pyrrhocorax graculus. 



Graculus eremita (Linn.) ; Oates, Faun. Brit. Ind., Birds, 

 i. p. 43. 



Graculus graculus (Linn.) ; Sharpe, Sci. Result. Yark. 

 Miss., Aves, p. 21. 



a. <$ adult; b. ? adult. Khamba Jong, 15,200 feet, Sept. 

 10, 1903. 



No. 1714. ? adult. Khamba Jong, 15,200 feet, Oct. 3, 

 1903. 



No. 1790. $ adult. Khamba Jong, 15,200 feet, Nov. 23, 

 1903. 



