BETWEEN MUSSOOM AND GANGAOTRI IN MAY 1874. 245 



567.— Reguloides viridipennis, Blyth. 



One obtained at G-angaotri, and another near Bairamghati ; 

 and doubtless it occurs in other parts of the Alpine portion of 

 the valley. Its notes are so similar to those of Reg. occipitalis, 

 that it is probably often overlooked. 



Reguloides viridipennis may be best described as a small 

 bright-coloured Reg. trochiloides. This larger, but very simi- 

 lar species, I have not yet seen from the north-west. 



569.— Culicipeta Burkii, Burton. 



One was obtained in the forests above the village of Banguli, 

 at a distance of about 3 miles from the river. 



573.— Abrornis albosuperciliaris, Blyth. 



Common at Mussoori, and found at many places up the 

 valley as far as Suki. I have examined a series of Abrornis 

 xanthoschistos from Sikhim, summer as well as winter birds, 

 and I am forced to the conclusion that the north-west bird is, 

 as a rule, a much paler one and consequently that albosuperci- 

 liaris is a good species, unless the difference in the tone of the 

 grey is due to the damper Sikhim climate. I have not yet 

 seen a newly moulted autumnal example of albosuperciliaris, 

 and would remark that Regidoides superciliosus and many 

 other birds from Sikhim are deeper iu tone and of purer and 

 brighter colour than the same birds are in the north-west. 

 I formerly expressed an opinion that the two species of very 

 closely allied Abrornis were identical. In size they are alike, 

 and the only difference is the shade of grey. 



It should be borne in mind that A. xanthoschistos, Hodgson, 

 is quite a distinct bird from the very small one that I des- 

 cribed as A. Jerdoni* (Pro., A.S., 1871). This has a very short 

 wing and tail, but no wing bar as in A. poliogenys, Blyth. 

 Dr. Jerdon's A. xanthoschistos, No. 572, gives dimensions 

 inapplicable to the true xanthoschistos ; and he probably had a 

 Jerdoni before him when he wrote his description. 



* The following is Mr. Brooks' description of Abrornis Jerdoni. — Ed. 



" The dark slaty-headed Abrornis. Dimensions— length of skin, 3-5, but the bird in 

 the flesh would probably measure 375; wing, 1-82; tail, 1'57; bill at front 035 • 

 from gape, about 05 ; tarsus, 072. 



" Colors similar to those of A. xanthoschistos, but the slate color of the head and 

 shoulders is very dark and without the greenish tinge observed in the other species 

 There is no apparent light colored coronal streak, but a greyish white superciliuru' 

 lower back, bright yellow green, as are also upper tail-coverts. Upper part of wing 

 vivid green. Two outer tail-feathers white on their inner webs ; the white of the 

 outermost one being spotless, while that of the penultimate one is clouded with pale 

 brown spots ; but that of the lower surface of the body from chin to under tail-coverts 

 bright yellow ; bill and feet colored as in the other species." 



