BETWEEN MUSSOORI AND GANGAOTRI IN MAY 1874. 233 



225. — iEthopyga miles, Hodgson. 



One procured near Dhiinda, aud again seen near Batwari. 



227.— iEthopyga Gouldiae, Vigors. 



I shot one near Danguli. 



234. — Arachnechthra asiatica, Lath. 



In the low warm parts of the valley. 



243. — Certhia himalayana, Vigors. 



The only Certhia* seen, even in the woods near the snows. 

 It is particularly common from Bairamghati to Gangaotri. 



248.— Sitta himalayensis, J. fy S. 



Seen near Mussoori and Landour, in the oak woods. 



* The following are Mr. Brook's original descriptions of his two new.species, Certhia 

 Sodgsoni and Sitta cashmirensis. — Ed. 



"Certhia Hodgsoni. 



" The Cashinir creeper is closely affined to C. familiaris, but differs in the following 

 respects : — 



1. A much longer bill, which is also much lighter coloured. 



2. Not nearly so rufous in tone, specially as regards rump and upper tail-coverts. 



3. The spots on the head and back are very white, and the brown of the upper 

 surface, specially that of the head, is almost black. This gives the Cashmir species a 

 general grey tone, as opposed to the rufous or fulvous tone of the European bird. 



4. The English bird has the three outer primaries (including the diminutive first) 

 plain brown ; and the fourth is marked with a buff patch on the outer web. In the 

 Cashmir bird there are four plain primaries, and the fifth is marked with the buff 

 patch on outer web. On opening the wings of the two birds, it will be found that the 

 arrangement of the buff and brown of the quill feathers generally differs in position 

 and extent. I have no hesitation whatever in separating the Cashmir species. It ha3 

 also a lighter coloured bill and lighter feet and claws. It is found sparingly iu the pine 

 woods near the snows. It was seen at Gulmurg and also at Sonamurg, where Captain. 

 Cock took a few nests. The egg is much more densely spotted than that of the Eng- 

 lish creeper, so as almost to hide the reddish white ground colour. Size 059 to 0'65 

 long, by 048 broad ; time of laying, the first week in June. 



" I give dimensions of the two species : — 



Length of skin, 



Wing, 



Tail, 



Bill at front, ... 



Tarsus, 



Length of foot, including claws, ... 



"Mr. Blyth, Ibis for January 1867, identifies a Western Himalayan bird with 

 familiaris. I think this specimen will prove to be the present species and not 

 familiaris. C. Himalayana is f.«und on the south side of the Pir Panjal Mountain, 

 but I did not meet with it in Cashmir Proper, where it is replaced by C. Hodgsoni." 



" Sitta cashmieensis. 



" In colouration very like S. himalayana, but the Cashmir bird is much larger, 

 with the white on the tail differently distributed. The wing measures 3'3 in. The 

 ■white of the chin, throat, and side of the head is not abruptly defined, but shaded 

 gradually into the rufous of the lower parts. Tt is very like S. europaja, but is 

 distinct. The abdomen, flanks and lower tail-coverts are darker than in S. himalayana. 

 There is no white edging to the under tail-coverts as in europaa and coesia. I 

 procured this bird in the pine forests of Cashmir." 



2 F 



