290 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
Koteghur, busy in the apricot orchards, where it is voted a 
nuisance, as it destroys and wastes much of the fruit for the sake 
of the kernels. Of the other two Himalayan species of Grosbeak, 
C. melanoxanthus is said to extend to Darjeeling, and C. carnipes 
is limited to the S.E. Himalayas. I have never observed either 
of them myself. Some years afterwards, on looking over a 
collection of birds belonging to Major Blagrave, of the Trigono- 
metrical Survey, I found some examples of a large Grosbeak 
which seemed different from any of the above-named, and which 
had been shot in the hills beyond Murree, in the far N.W. On 
sending them to Calcutta they were pronounced new, and named 
by Blyth C. afinis. (2) A fine fishing Owl, Ketupa flavipes. 
(3) Aquila Bonelli, as it now stands, but known by many other 
scientific names; this was a very fine adult female. (4) A small 
horned Owlet, probably Scops lettia, a dark grey specimen. Is it 
only a variety of the chestnut phase of plumage? This pretty 
little Owl had been shot only that evening, and was untouched ; 
the irides were dark brown. (5) The only other novelty was a 
remarkably large Field Lark, Mirafta, which seemed to differ 
from those described in being unspotted grey above, and pale 
fiery red below. Capt. T. did not know it, so I laid it aside to 
send to Calcutta for identification; but somehow that was mis- 
laying it, and eventually I know not what became of it. I 
believe it was a new species. Gomez said he shot it on the 
bare hill-side, half-way from Simla. The Shikaree had that 
morning shot a brace of Kalij Pheasants, and a Kakur, or Barking 
Deer. As I was pretty well done up after a thirty-two mile ride 
and an eight mile walk, I dined on what I could get; and so to 
bed, without seeing Capt. H. till the morning. 
Mahassoo, Oct. 2nd.—For the first time this morning I heard 
and then saw the Himalayan Nutcracker, Nucifraga hemispila, 
which is very common in the pine-forests. I never saw it else- 
where, and it is unknown at Kussowlie or Landour; but abounds 
nere, flying about in pairs or small parties. I recognised its loud 
discordant voice before I was out of bed. Capt. H. says it breeds 
in the pine-forest, building a nest of small twigs, lined with fir- 
needles and bits of moss. He had not taken the eggs, however. 
Another fine Nutcracker, N. multimaculata, has been brought 
from Cashmere, but I have never seen it. 
The situation of Capt. H.’s house is beautiful. Gigantic 
