228 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. 
The single bird (Amara, 23-12-17) stands out from the rest at once and evidently 
belongs to a different race. It is-browner, not so grey above. and more exten- 
sively and purer brown, not grey brown, on the flanks, and this colour reaches 
the undertail coverts. Dr. Buxton tells me it matches well a series of loudoni 
in the Tring Museum from Lenkoran ; these are more like the typical race, but 
bave the crown crimson red, not so flaming vermillion and the spots on the side 
of the breast dull brown not red brown, and are of the same size—that is larger 
than niedichi. 
Lastly there is a bird in the B. M. obtained by Woosman on the Diz R. on 
March 11th. Witherby (Ibis, 1907, p. 100) referring to this specimen thought it 
was perhaps nearest the typical race, or might be volgensis of Buturlin of which 
he had seen no specimens. I have examined this bird and could come to no 
decisive opinion about it ; it certainly is not either niedicki or loudoni and it is 
rather large and richly coloured for the typical race. It matches fairly well a 
bird from Samarkund which is major, except that the upper part of the ramp 
is greyer, but I notice that the pureness of white rump in major varies some- 
what, however it is darker on the mantle than most major, are ; in absence of 
any further similar specimens and of any topo-types of volgensis (Ibis, 1906, 
p. 424, Ssuram to the Urals) one cannot come to any determination, but I may 
remark that this bird seems to agree with Buturlin’s description, and Zarudny 
records this race in winter from the Karun district. 
The distribution of the various races of Goldfinches in this corner of Asia require 
much more study and further specimens are needed before we can come to any 
satisfactory conclusion about them. Zarudny says loudoni is the breeding bird 
of Shustar and Kasvin and Buxton found it common at Resht in winter and I 
have seen winter specimens from Shiraz. The breeding bird of the Persian 
plateau is apparently harmsi, which probably is the same as niedicki. 
10. Siskin. Carduelis spinus. 
Carduelis spinus (L) (Syst. Nat. Ed. X, p. 181, 1758—Sweden). 
One obtained by Ross at Suleimania on January 7th, 1920, is the sole record. 
11. Linnet. Acanthis cannabina. 
Acanthis cannabina fringillirostris, Bp. and Schleg. (Mon. Lox. p. 45, 
1850—Cashmere). 
Evidently the Linnet is a scarce winter visitor ; Buxton met with a flock of 
twelve at Amara on February 11th and obtained specimens. Meinerzhagen 
recorded a flock of Linnets at Nineveh, and Ross got one at Suleimania from a 
large flock feeding on thistles and reeds on January 29th ; Bailey obtained two 
early in January at Shustar, where Woosnam had previously met with it (March 
21st) ; Witherby thought Woosman’s bird was rather dark for this race. Zarudny 
says that fringillirostris is a winter visitor and passage migrant and that the 
typical race is rare in the Karun district. I have seen none that could be as- 
cribed to the typical race, all our skins are typical fringillirostris. 
Four skins examined : Amara, 11-2-18 (P. A. B.); Shustar 1-2-18 (F. M. B.) 
Suleimania, 19-1-20 (Ross). 
12. Red-fronted Serin. Serinus pusillus, 
Serinus pusillus (Pall.) (Zoogr. Rosso-Asiat. ii, p. 28, 1811—Caucasus: 
and Caspian). ‘ 
Apparently a scarce, perhaps erratic winter visitor. Buxton met with a flock 
in a garden at Amara on February 7th, 1918, and obtained four specimens. It 
breeds in the Caucasus, North Persia, etc. 
13. Trumpeter Bullfinch, Buchanetes githaginea. 
Buchanetes githaginea crassirosiris, Blyth, (J. A. 8. B. XVI, p. 
476, 1847—Afghanistan). 
