166 THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC. 



rare. On comparing it with European specimens I did not find any 

 difference between them. 



Measurements of a male — length 5", width T^'S, wing 2'''5, tail 2"06, 

 tarsus 0"-63, culmen 0"-76. 



40. TicHODROMA MURARiA, L. Stcnohs crosnokriky. 



This pretty bird occurs but seldom in the mountains of S.E. MongoUa, 

 but is very common in Kan-su, especially in the alpine region. As usual, 

 the rocks are the principal habitat of the Wall-Creeper ; but we also found 

 them in the beds of mountain-streams, to which places they usually come 

 after much rain, when the wet rocks are suitable for climbing. 



It looks very singular to see the species searching for food together with 

 Cinclus cashmeriensis and Chcemarrhornis leucocephala. When moving over a 

 horizontal space it spreads out its wings, closing them only for short intervals 

 when running over soft ground. Altogether we noticed that it does not 

 dislike running on the earth, especially on the borders of brooks and creeks 

 after rain. This observation is just opposite to Girtanner's and Brehm's 

 beautiful description of the habits of this Creeper (111. Thierl.). 



We observed these birds very busily engaged in searching for food 

 immediately after sunrise, about 5 o'clock a.m., which again disagrees with 

 Girtanner's statement, according to which it leaves its resting-place very late 

 in the morning— ^. e. Avhen the rocks are dried from the night's dew. 



The note is a soft and squeaking whistle. We heard it only in spring 

 in Kan-su, during the breeding- season. The male often sings whilst climbing 

 on the rocks or on the wing. 



In Tibet also we obtained it ; and our specimens differed from European 

 ones by their larger size, darker colour, and principally by the short bill. 

 The latter, however, is very variable ; but still all our four specimens had a 

 conspicuously short bill, its length being nearly equal in all. 



