516 .NOVELTIES. 



rufous ; axillaries dusky at their bases, but broadly tipped with 

 white ; wing lining and the interior margins of the quills inside 

 a slanting line, from the base of the 1st primary to the tip of 

 the 1st secondary, in the closed wing on its lower surface, white, 

 faintly tinged with pinkish fawn color; rest of the under sm*- 

 face of the wing, outside this imaginary line, pale greyish 

 brown. 



The female differs in being rather paler and duller colored 

 every where, and in wanting the ruddy vinaceous blue-tipped fea- 

 thers, on the chin, throat, ear-coverts, sides, and flanks, which 

 >vith the rest of the lower parts are a dull pale brownish white. 



Passer Stoliczkse, Sp. Nov ? - 



Sexes dissimilar ; male with the lores ; a band through the eyes and over 

 the ear-coverts, chin, and a broad band down the throat on to the rip- 

 per breast ; forehead and a very broad band over crown and 'occiput 

 to nape black ; a white band over the lores and anterior half of eye ; 

 a very brood pale ferruginous band, over posterior half of eyes and 

 black eye streak, continued backwards so as nearly to meet on the nape ; 

 greater portion of lesser and median coverts velvet black, the latter 

 broadly tipped with pure ivhite. 



This very well marked Sparrow was obtained by Dr. Stoliczka 

 in Yarkand, where it appears to have been very common dur- 

 ing the winter. 



It seems incredible that such a species should have hitherto 

 escaped observation, as its summer home must probably be Si- 

 beria ; but I have found nothing at all corresponding to it in 

 liadde, Middendorff, or Schrenck,orin Swinhoe's list of Chinese 

 birds, or amongst Pere David's novelties. Again, I have examin- 

 ed specimens, plates, or descriptions of every species in Mr. 

 Gray's hand list, under generas 1811 to 1819 (except of Pallas^ 

 Bp., of which I can find no description), and I am unable to 

 identify the present bird with any of them. 



In shape of bill and general appearance it seems to me to 

 approximate most closely to Passer Lichtenstemii, Heugl. (sim- 

 plex, Licht. nee. Sw.), but differs from this markedly in the 

 coloration of the head of the male, in the black shoulder of the 

 wing, &c. 



1 am almost convinced that it cannot be new, but having failed 

 to find anything like it on record, feel bound to describe it under 

 Stoliczka's name. The following are the dimensions and colors 



