124 A CONTRIBUTION TO THE ORNITHOLOGY OF GILGIT. 
128.—Parus nipalensis, Hodgs. (645.) 
This is one of the most familiar birds in the Gilgit 
district, where it abounds throughout the year in all the lower 
valleys. In winter it is quite gregarious, and may be con- 
stantly seen feeding on the ground after the manner of a 
Sparrow. The young, which differs greatly from the adult, 
has been fully described (S. F., 1X., 338). In five adult speci- 
mens the wings measure 2°85 to 2°93 inches; tail, 2°6 to 2°8 ; 
tarsi, 0°64 to 0°75. 
129.—Accentor nipalensis, Hodgs. (652.) 
According to my experience this Accentor only occurs in 
small numbers in the district in mild or ordinary winters. I 
never saw it in such numbers as Major Biddulph records for 
the exceptionally severe winter of 1877-78. Gilgit speci- 
mens are decidedly paler above and less rufous than most 
specimens of A. nipalensis from Sikkim; but that species is 
so close to A. alpinus, Bechst., that it is impossible to insert 
an intermediate species between them. The Gilgit bird 
agrees best with A. nipalensis, and is, no doubt, properly 
referred to that form. 
130.—Accentor altaicus, Brandé. (653.) 
A rare cold-weather visitor, except in severe winters. A 
male shot in January at an elevation of 8,000 feet measured :— 
Wing, 3°8 inches; tail, 2-4; tarsus, 0°9; culmen, 0°6. 
131.—Accentor jerdoni, Brooks. (654 dis.) 
Gilgit specimens of this Accentor are identical with an 
example from Dharmsala, obtained and named by Mr. Brooks. 
This species seems to be perfectly distinct from the eastern 
A. strophiatus, Hodgson. The differences are pointed out 
by Mr. Brooks in his original description (J. A. 8. B., 1872, 
p. 827). In A. jerdoni the head, between tie lateral black 
streaks, is quite plain, while in A. strophiatus the head is 
boldly streaked exactly like the back. I note, however, that the 
bill is variable, and that there is no constant difference between 
the two species in this respect. I have examined a specimen 
of Accentor multistriatus, David, from “ Yangkyonpo,” in Mr. 
Seebohm’s collection; and it seems to me the same in every 
respect as A. strophiatus. 
132.—Accentor atrogularis, Brandt. (655.) 
A winter visitor only to the main valley, arriving about the 
middle of October and leaving in the third week in March. 
The birds are usually found in pairs, and are not very shy. 
