THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC. 185 



as to the parents having executed this work within the short time allowed to 

 them by us. I also noticed that the nesting-holes of S. isahellina are always 

 deeper and straighter than those of Pyrgilauda davidiana, which often occur 

 very close to the present species. 



It breeds also in Kan-su and about Koko-nor; and it is very remarkable 

 that, notwithstanding the more southern situation of this lake, S. isahellina 

 does not appear there until the 1st of April, i, e, about two weeks later than 

 in S.E. Mongolia. 



78. Pratincola indica, Blyth. Checcanchick indeyshey. ' 



This eastern representative of the European P. rubicola w^as found by 

 us breeding in small numbers in the alpine regions of the Kan-su mountains. 

 The first birds were noticed on the 5th of April. 



About Lake Hanka they arrive towards the end of April, and breed 

 there numerously in the bush-covered steppes. They do not differ in their 

 habits or voice from our P. rubicola. 



79. Accentor nipalensis, Hodgs. Savirushca nipalshaya. 



Accentor nipalensis, Gould, Birds of Asia, part vii. pi. 



We found it in Kan-su ; but Swinhoe records its occurrence about Lake 

 Baikal, and consequently it must migrate across the desert. Our specimens 

 differ from Gould's figure by having the upper tail-coverts and the rump 

 Ught brow^n, but not so bright as in A. erythropygius, Swinh. (Gould, ' Birds 

 of Asia,' part xxiii.). Only one of our specimens (a male, obtained in July) 

 has a completely grey rump, like A, alpinus, to w^hich it is very closely allied. 

 Measurements— -length 7', width ll''-5, wing 4''-2, tail 2''-95, culmen 0''-52, 

 tarsus 0"-97. 



It is common in Kan-su, belonging exclusively to the alpine region. In 

 its habits it very much resembles our European A. alpinus, and sings equally 

 well. After leaving the nests, the young birds keep in famiHes ; and we 



VOL. II. 2 c 



