408 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



equal ; tail moderate, slightly forked ; feet short ; hind claw rather 

 long. 



The Gold-finches are a very limited group of small birds, 

 distinguished by a bright and variegated coloration; some red 

 about the head and a golden yellow bar on the wings. They 

 sing well, make remarkably neat nests, and the eggs are pale 

 bluish-white, spotted with purple and brown. 



749. Carduelis caniceps, Vigors. 



P. Z. S. 1831— Gould, Cent. Him. Birds, pi. 32, f. 1— Royle, 

 111. of Bot. Himal., pi. 8, f. 2— Blyth, Cat. 675— Horsf., Cat. 

 751 — Shira, H. — Saira in Cashmere. 



The Himalayan Gold-finch. 



Descr. — General color above pale whity brown ; the rump and 

 upper tail-coverts white ; a narrow band on the forehead, continu- 

 ing round the base of the bill to the chin, scarlet; wings black, 

 with a golden yellow band, and a few white spots on the secon- 

 daries ; tail black, with the inner webs of the two outer tail-feathers 

 with a large white patch, and the four medial feathers tipped with 

 white ; beneath whitish, tinged with brownish ashy on the breast 

 and flanks. 



Bill carneous with a dusky tip ; legs pale brown ; irides brown. 

 Length 5^ inches ; wing 3j ; tail 2^-; bill at front |-. 



The Himalayan Gold-finch differs from the European species, in 

 wanting the black and white of the head behind the scarlet band, 

 and in being a somewhat smaller bird. It is only found in the 

 N. W. Himalayas, near Simla and Mussooree, extending into 

 Affghanistan and other parts of Central Asia. Adams says that 

 it is common in Cashmere in winter, and that it visits the ranges 

 next the plains. It is perhaps Pallas' variety of the common Gold- 

 finch, figured pi. 38 of his Zool. As. Ross., found in summer on the 

 Jenisei river. Caged specimens are occasionally brought to Calcutta 

 for sale, and its song is said by Adams to be exactly similar to that 

 of its European congener. 



Besides the Himalayan and European Gold-finch, there is only 

 one other species, C. orientalis, from Siberia and Northern Asia. 



Next the Gold-finches come the Siskins. 



