274 birds of india. 



The Crested Black-Tit. 



Descr. — Above dark iron grey ; head (with a long recurved crest) 

 black ; a large white spot on the cheeks, from the base of the lower 

 mandible, and including the ear-coverts ; a spot on the nape also 

 white, and the wing-coverts spotted with white ; quills and tail 

 dusky ; chin and throat black ; the rest beneath grey, with a slight 

 rufous tinge ; axillaries and under tail-coverts rusty. 



Bill blackish; legs plumbeous. Length 4^ inches; wing 2§ ; 

 tail If ; bill at front 10 mill. 



This pretty little Tit is found chiefly in the N. W. Himalayas; it 

 is common at Simla and Mussooree, and spreads into Affghanistan. 

 It is not found in the S. E. Himalayas, where it is replaced by the 

 following very closely allied species. Adams states that in 

 Cashmere it is seen in flocks, in the forests of the valley, and the 

 lesser ranges towards the South, and that it sometimes associates 

 with xEyithalus flammiceps. 



639. Lophophanes rubidiventris, Blyth. 



Parus, apud Blyth, J. A. S. XVI. 445 — Blyth, Cat. 543 — 

 Horsf., Cat. 600 — P. melanolophos, apud Hodgson — Gould, 

 Birds of Asia, pt. XL, pi. 14. 



The Rufous-bellied Crested-Tit. 



Descr. — Above pale rufescent grey, with a strong tinge of 

 ferruginous on the rump; head and crest black; cheek spot as in the 

 last ; wings not spotted with white ; the black on the throat is of 

 less extent than in melanolophos, which it closely resembles in size ; 

 but it is a somewhat larger bird, the wings measuring 2f; the 

 feet also are stronger ; the black on the breast is of less extent ; 

 and the bill is conspicuously larger, being 1 2 mill, long, and much 

 thicker. This species has hitherto only been found in Nepal, and I 

 did not procure it in Sikhim. 



The next two birds are very similar in coloring, but are distinctly 

 larger. 



640. Lophophanes rufonuchalis, Blyth. 



J. A. S. XVIII. 810— Blyth, Cat. 54 I—Gould, Birds of 

 Asia, pt. XL, pi. 15. 



