298 THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC. 



regions. It is most abundant in the thickets on the sides of mountain- 

 brooks. 



The voice of the male, either when on the wing or sitting, resembles that 

 of our common Bullfinch, but is somewhat weaker. In spring the males sing 

 very prettily. 



The present species is a quick and lively bird, which very seldom sits 

 quietly, but usually flies from one branch to another. About the middle of 

 May the small flocks had not yet paired. 



The Kan-su mountains form the northern boundary of distribution for 

 the present species. 



154. Carpodacus erythrinus, Pall. Snigir hrasney. 



Is of occasional occurrence in S.E. Mongolia, and does not occur at all 

 in the Hoang-ho valley and at Hara-narin-ul, although it commonly breeds 

 in Kan-su and Ala-shan, in the w^ooded parts of the middle and the bushes 

 of the alpine region. 



About the middle of May these birds arrived in Kan-su, in small flocks 

 of from three to fifteen individuals, and kept mostly in the thickets of the 

 mountain-ranges. 



C erythrinus is rather rare in Ussuri country. I once met with it at 

 the mouth of the Ussuri, and also on the coast of the Japanese Sea — but 

 never noticed it about Lake Hanka, not even during the vernal migration. 



In comparing European specimens with East-Asiatic ones, I find that 

 the latter are brighter-coloured on the head and the underparts, and dai'ker 

 on the back. 



155. Carpodacus rubicilla, Giild. 

 Bonap. Monog. des Loxiens, pi. xxix. 



Found in November in the Tsaidam plains, where this mountain-bird 



