52 W. T. Blanf or d— Zoo logy of Sikkim. [No. 1, 



and above 10000 in Northern Sikkim in August, September and the begin- 

 ning of October. It evidently breeds in the higher ranges, and descends in 

 winter to the valleys, as described by Jerdon. In the middle of October all 

 the birds of this species in the Lachen valley had descended to below 10,000 

 feet elevation. 



508 IajS t thia rtjfilata, (Hodgs.) — This is another bird found in the 

 winter around Darjiling, which evidently breeds in the pine forests. I shot 

 specimens at about 12000 feet both on the Chola range and in the Lachuno 1 

 valley. One bird, a female, killed in the last named locality, is immature and 

 has only partially assumed the adult plumage. It has pale spots on some of the 

 back and head feathers, whilst the nestling feathers remaining on the breast 

 are isabelline with dark margins. 



Drymockares stellattis. — Gould P. Z. S. 1868, pp. 218, 219. Birds 

 of Asia, Pt. XXI. A single male was shot by my shikari at Yeomatong in 

 the Lachung valley at 12000 to 13000 feet. The specimen is in poor condi- 

 tion and much injured, so that I can give no trustworthy dimensions. 



This form, although well distinguished by its peculiar coloration, appears 

 to be scarcely entitled to rank higher than a sub-genus of Bracliypteryx. I 

 have elsewhere, in another paper on Sikkim birds, given my reasons for placing 

 Uracliypteryx near Ianthia in preference to classing it with the wrens, as is 

 done by Jerdon. The usual position assigned to the genus amongst the 

 TimalimcB (Crateropidce) or Leiotricliinm appears to me quite incompatible 

 with the structure and habits of the Himalayan species. 



513 Calliope pectoralis, Gould. — Common on the Chola range, but 

 less abundant in northern Sikkim ; hi both localities only seen, in August and 

 September, above 12,000 feet, and usually above the limit of forest. It 

 haunts rhododendron scrub in which it doubtless breeds, and is frequently 

 seen on the hill side near bushes. 



In the only male I possess there is no white moustachial stripe, and I 

 can only find one male specimen out of 5 (4 moiuited and 1 skin) in the 

 Indian Museum, exhibiting this character. This specimen also has the white 

 spots at the tip of the tail feathers much larger than in others. In my 

 specimen, and in one apparently from the N. W. Himalayas, as presented by 

 Jerdon to the Museum, there is a broad white forehead, not mentioned in 

 Jerdon's description, and wanting on other specimens to which I have access. 



The adult females (2 in number,) shot by me, do not agree well with 

 Jerdon's description, which may perhaps be taken from a yoiuig male. At 

 all events hi 2 adult females, and 2 young birds obtained in Sikkim, as also 

 in the skin of a hen bird in the Indian Museum, there is no white whatever 

 at the base of the tail. Adult females have the upper parts brown with a 

 slight greyish tinge, wings hair brown with paler margins to the quills ; tail 

 blackish, feathers tipped white (not fulvous), but without any white at the 



