THE BIEDS OF MONGOLIA ETC. 289 



145. MONTIFRINGILLA ADAMSI, Moore. 



Gould, Birds of Asia, part xix. pi. 



This species finds its limit of geographical distribution at Kan-su, where 

 we met with it for the first time. It inhabits the woodless mountain-plains 

 and hilly cultivated localities, where it probably breeds in the ravines. After 

 August we did not meet with any of these birds in Kan-su, but saw a winter 

 flock, consisting of about two hundred, in Northern Tibet, in December; at 

 that time the specimens killed by me had a yellow bill, as represented in 

 Gould's figure, but were rather Hghter in their general plumage. The voice 

 of M. adamsi resembles very much that of our common House-Sparrow. 



146. Fringillauda nemoricola, Hodgs. 



Bonaparte^, Monographie des Loxiens^ pi. xlvii. 



We found this bird only in the Kan-su mountains, which form its 

 northern hmit of distribution. It inhabits exclusively the alpine region; and 

 after the young leave the nest, they associate in large flocks of several 

 hundreds. Many such were observed by us on the meadows and slopes of 

 the highest mountains. When in search of food, they keep constantly flying 

 from one place to another, uttering their squeaking note. On the ground 

 they disperse, but in the air form a very dense mass. 



Notwithstanding the heavy snowfalls in the alpine region, these birds 

 were found by us there until the middle of September ; but in spring they 

 did not arrive until after April. 



Onychospiza, nov. gen. 



Rostrum subconicum^ apice subarcuatum ; nares basales, rotundatss; plumulis tectse ; pedes et digiti 

 breves ; ungues longi^ arcuati^ acuti et compressi ; alse longse^ subacutse^ remigibus 2°^ 3°, 4° 

 sub^equalibus longissimis ; cauda mediocris^ apice rotundata ; tectrices caudse superiores et 

 inferiores longse^ longitudine fequales. 

 VOL. II. 2 R 



