A CONTRIBUTION TO THE ORNITHOLOGY OF NEPAL. 269 



from gape, 0*7 to 0*77 ; bill at front, 0-38 to 0-47 ; closed wings 

 short of tail, 2'1 to 2'8. In all these specimens there is a narrow 

 reddish line on the margin of the outer web of the first primary 

 at its base, and a more or less pronounced short red line on the 

 marg-in of the outer web of the fourth primary at the bulge. 



Nine adult females.-— hength, 7'3 to 7*6 ; expanse, 10 to 10*6 ; 

 wing, 3-35 to 3-6 ; tail, 3*6 to 4-35 ; tarsus, 0-6 to 0-65 ; bill 

 from gape, 0'7 to 0"72 ; bill at front, 0'4 to 0*47 ; closed wings 

 short of tail, 2-3 to 2-65. 



All these have a yellowish white line on the outer margin of 

 the first primary at the base, and either no, or only a faint trace 

 of a similarly coloured hair line on the outer margin of the fourth 

 primary at the bulge. 



Male, Valley, June. — Length, 7-8 ; expanse, 10'5 ; wing, 8-4; 

 tail, 4-35 ; tarsus, 0*6 ; bill from gape, 0-72 ; closed wings short of 

 tail, 2-75. 



This example is in the plumage of the adult female, but has 

 a faint tinge of red on the throat, lower breast and upper part 

 of the abdomen, a scarlet spot on the rump, and a rosy red 

 spot on both webs of the eighth and ninth quills. 



Two immature males, Valle?/, August and September. — Length, 

 7-7 to 7-85 ; expanse, 10-4 and 10-3 ; wing, 3-55 and 3*6 ; tail, 

 4-4; tarsus, 0-6; bill from gape, 0*7 and 0' 72; bill at front, 

 0*45 ; closed wings short of tail, 3-8 and 2'9. 



Plumage as in adult female. 



Three young males, Valley, July. — Length, 7'5 to 7*9; expanse, 

 10 to 10-8 ; wing, 3-4 to 3-65 ; tail, 4-2 to 4-5 ; tarsus, 0-6 ; 

 bill from gape, 0-7 to 075 ; bill at front, 0-43 to 0*5 ; closed 

 wings short of tail, 2*6 to 3*0 ; weight, 0*75 ozs. 



Bill black, brownish at base below; lower eyelid grey, its margin 

 with a line of white feathers ; irides very dark brown ; feet and 

 daws black. Upper surface brownish grey, with a slight greenish 

 tinge, each feather having a dark subterminal bar, and below this 

 a white fringe, thus giving the upper surface a strongly un- 

 dulated appearance ; the upper tail-coverts olive yellow, most 

 of the feathers also barred ; elsewhere coloured as in the adult 

 female. 



The Short-billed Mini vet is very common in the valley of 

 Nepal throughout the year, and is also abundant, in winter, in 

 the Nawakot district and from Bhimphedi to Hetoura. In the 

 valley it is usually seen in the central woods, in parties or flocks, 

 on high trees ; it is very erratic in its movements, and is some- 

 times found in great numbers, for a day or two, in a place 

 where it will not afterwards be seen for weeks. When flocks 

 of this species frequent Pine trees (P. longifolia) it is a pretty 

 sight to watch their bright plumage glowing in the sun as they 



