226 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.xxii. 



LINARIA BREVIROSTRIS PYGM^A (Stoliczka). 



Linotairygmwa Stoliczka, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal, XXXVII, Pt. 2, 1868, p. 62. 



Five summer birds from Gya, Ladak, at from 13,000 to 14,000 feet. 

 According to Dr. Abbott's notes the color of the feet ranges from 

 "dark iieshy brown" to black; and the bill is variously "pale brown- 

 ish fleshy," "dull leaden," or "horny white," always " dark brown at 

 tip." " Length, male, 5| inches." With regard to their habits he states : 

 "In small flocks about the patches of cultivation and picking among 

 the horse droppings in the road." 



These five specimens are exceedingly interesting, since they estab- 

 lish beyond a doubt the validity of Unota pygmcEa Stoliczka, a form 

 which has heretofore always been synonymized with L. hrevirostris. . 

 Even casual comparison is sufficient to show that the two are at least 

 subspecifically distinct. The original specimens of pygmcm came from 

 Chini and Padam, so that this form seems to be confined chiefly to 

 Ladak; L. hrevirostris a])])arently occupying the region extending from 

 Asia Minor to Turkestan. The original wing measurement is smaller 

 than that of the present examples, but, excepting this and a few other 

 unimportant discrepancies, the original description of Linota pygmwa is 

 perfectly applicable. 



From Turkestan and Tagdumbash Pamir specimens, which are 

 assumed to be nearly or quite typical brevirostris, pygmcea difl'ers in 

 being much darker, more fulvous throughout, this being most evident 

 on jugulum, breast, and back. One individual is rather paler than the 

 others, thus in a measure verging toward brevirostris and indicating 

 its subspecific relationship, but is without difficulty distinguishable. 



The proper generic name for the linnets is apparently Linaria Bech- 

 stein,^ this being almost thirty years prior to to Linota Bonaparte^ which 

 has been in frequent use for the group. Dr. Sclater, after showing 

 Linaria to be the earliest iiame,^ rejects it on account of previous 

 employment in botany,* a course not in accord with current usage. 



CALLACANTHIS BURTONI (Gould). 



Carduelis burtoni Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1837, p. 90. 

 Callacanthis Imrtoni Bonaparte, Consp. Av., I, 1850, p. 507. 



One adult male, December 16, 1895, from Sind Valley, Cashmere, at 

 6,000 feet, differs from breeding males in the duller, more rosaceous 

 tinge of the lower surface. "Bill horny yellow, brown at tip; feet 

 pale brownish flesh color. Length, 7^ inches." 



' Ornith . Taschenb . , 1, 1802, p. 121 . 



2 Saggio Distr. Met. Anim., 1831, p. 141. 



3 Ibis, 1892, pp. 555 et seq. 

 •* Idem,, p. 557. 



