336 THE BIRDS OF GILGIT. 



124.— Leptopcecile sophism* Sev. (633 bis). 



A winter visitant, but seldom comes below 6,000 feet 

 except in very severe weather. 



In 1874, after returning from Yarkand with some speci- 

 mens of this bird, I found a young one labelled as having 

 been shot at Leh, but not identified at the time. On show- 

 ing my collection to Mr; Hume, he suggested that the label 

 must have been attached by mistake, and that the specimen 

 must have been procured with the others north of the Kara- 

 korum. After procuring the bird at Gilgit, 1 doubt not that 

 my label was correct, and that specimens are to be procured 

 at Leh ; but the bird is at all times so difficult to see and to 

 shoot, that it is not surprising that it has hitherto escaped 

 notice. Dr. Scully also informed mo that he found it in the 

 Nobra valley in Ladak. 



The plumage is very thick and soft, and the basal part of 

 the feathers and down ou the lower surface is deep black, 

 concealed by the colour of the tips. 



The male only has been figured by Gould ; but the letter- 

 press contains an accurate description of the female by 

 Severtzoff. 



125.— iEgithaliscus leucogenys, Moore. (634 bis). 



This species was described by Moore iu the P. Z. S. as long 

 ago as 1854, from specimens in the Indian Museum, labelled 

 from Afghanistan ; the description is accompanied by a short 

 extract "from Griffith's MS. notes ; but subsequently to this 

 the bird does not appear to have been obtained, nor is its 

 correct habitat defined. 



A number of specimens were obtaiued in the main valley 

 about fifteen miles above Gilgit, among thick bush and tree- 

 jungle, about the middle of May. In these the chin and 

 throat are of a deep blackish maroon, rather than jet black 

 (as described by Moore) ; and towards the breast the lower 

 margin of the dark patch is narrowly, but distinctly, fringed 

 with chestnut. Iu other respects they agree exactly with 

 the original description. 



The dimensions, taken in the flesh, are as follows : — 



Adults :— Length, 4*75 to 4-8 inches; wing, 2*2 to 223; tail, 

 22 to 2-25 ; tarsus, 0*63 ; bill at front, 0'25. 



Young :— Length, 4*3 inches ; wing, 195 ; tail, 1-8; tarsus, 

 055. 



* [Both sexes of this species, which must be included in our List as 633 bis, will 

 be found very fully described S. F., II., 513, et seq., under the name of Stoliczkana 

 stoliczkae. When I described it, it was unknown to 99 out of every 100 ornithologists, 

 though as a fact it had just previously been described in a Russian work by my 

 distinguished friend Severtzoff, whose name of course must stand.— A. O. H.] 



