FRINGILLIN^. 395 



with dusky crescentic marks, becoming more albescent on the 

 lower abdomen. 



Bill yellow; legs brown; hides hazel brown. Length 7|- 

 inches; extent 12£ ; wing 4|- ; tail 2h; bill at front -| ; 

 tarsus |. 



This magnificent bird has chiefly been found in the S. E. Hima- 

 layas, in Nepal and Sikim ; and is unknown in the North-west. 

 It is by no means rare about Darjeeling, and haunts elevations 

 from 5,000 to 10,000 feet, according to the season. I have generally 

 seen it in pairs. It frequents both forest and bushy-ground, 

 feeds on fruits and seeds of various kinds, and has a loud whist- 

 ling note. 



Pr. Bonaparte and Schlegel, as quoted by Gould, state that this 

 bird sings very agreeably, and plays a great part in the mythology 

 of the Hindoos. This of course is quite erroneous, and the 

 common Tuti of India, Carpodacus erythrinus, was probably 

 intended. 



Bonaparte places next this bird a remarkable species from 

 Japan, Chaunoproctus papa, which appears to be coloured some- 

 what like Pyrrhospiza punicea. 



Gen. Propyrehula, Hodgson. 



Syn. Spermopipes, Caban. 



Char. — Bill as in Pyrrhula, but somewhat longer, and the tip 

 of the upper mandible less distinctly prolonged and overhanging ; 

 wings shorter and more rounded ; plumage as in Loxia or 

 Strobilophaga. 



This form, says Blyth, can only be arranged satisfactorily 

 as a separate division, especially intermediate to Pyrrhula and 

 Carpodacus. As previously observed, by the coloration of the 

 female, it ranks very naturally in the present group. Bonaparte 

 places it with Con/thus, the type of the European Pine Gros- 

 beak, C. enucleator, L., but states that it approximates the Car- 

 poclaci. Blyth first applied Hodgson's Manuscript generic name 

 to this species, which Hodgson afterwards gave to another bird, 

 the Pyrrhospiza punicea, Bl., {vide p. 406 ). 



