354 THE BIRDS OF GILGIT. 



In summer it goes up to 10,000 feet and higher. The young 

 birds apparently do not acquire the rufous brown head till 

 the second year. I saw an immeuse flock of this Finch at 

 Astor in November, and picked up twenty-six after one shot. 

 This is probably the red-headed Sparrow said to appear in 

 Leh in winter. The axillaries in this species are white instead 

 of yellow, as in F. nemoricola. * 



175.— Oalandrella brachydactyla, Leisl. (761). 



A few appeared in March, but were not seen again in 

 Gilgit. In September and October I obtained a few higher up 

 the Indus, towards Iskardo. The March specimens are in 

 very faded plumage ; those got in the autumn are in fresh 

 plumage with the rufous edgings to the feathers perfect. 

 The males are 6'5 inches long ; wiug, 3*75 to 4*0 ; tail, 2*4 to 

 2 5 : the females, 6 to 6'25 inches long; wing, 3*3 to 3 4 ; tail, 

 2-25 to 245. 



176.— Melanocorypha bimaculata, Menetr. (761 ter). 



Three specimens were secured in the months of December 

 and March, all males. In one specimen the height of the 

 bill at front is 0"33 inch ; no others seen. 



177.— Alaudula pispoletta,t Pall. ( ? 762 quae). 



Dr. Scully writes that he has obtained a specimen since I 

 left Gilgit, with short hind claw, spotted breast, and secon- 

 daries 0*75 inch shorter than the primaries. 



178.— Alaudula adamsi, Hume. (762 ter). 



Since I left Gilgit Dr. Scully has obtained specimens of 

 this Lark. 



179.— Otocorys penicillata, Gould. (763). 



Extremely common from November till the end of March, 

 when, after forming large flocks of over a hundred, it suddenly 

 disappears. Out of many specimens shot, none appears to 

 answer to the description of O. longirostris. 



180.— Alauda dulcivox, Eodgs. (766). 



This large Skylark is a winter visitant only, first appearing 

 in November and leaving by the end of March. In March, 

 when assuming breeding plumage, just before leaving, it gets 

 much darker, but never apparently so dark as A. guttata, 



* [Vide S. F., I., 43, November 1872, where this was first pointed out.— A. O. H.] 

 f [This is probably the form figured as pispoletta by Dresser, the Calendrella 

 heinii of v. Homejer. See for full particulars, S. F., VIIL, 97.— A. O. fl.l 





