68 W. T. Blanford— Zoology of Sik7cim. [No. 1, 



This bird differs widely from every described form. In structure it is 

 closely allied to M. nivalis, and differs from Leucosticte in its shorter wings 

 and tail. The plumage may become whiter in the winter. 



I met with one flock of this new finch near Kangra Lama pass, and 

 with another at Phalung, both places inhabited by purely Tibetan forms, and at 

 elevations of 15,000 to 16,000 feet. It is probably common in Tibet. Dr. 

 Stoliczka is of opinion that it is the same as the undescribed Montif ring ilia 

 found by him in Ladak (J. A. S. B., 1868, pt. II, p, 62), but of which his 

 specimen is not now in Calcutta. 



Corvidce. 

 657 CoRVtTS COEAX, L. (C. Tibetanus, Hodgs.). — I give the measure- 

 ments of four birds taken before skinning. They do not exceed those given 

 by H. von Pelzeln (Ibis, 1868, p. 316,) from Dr. Stoliczka's notes, so that it 

 is improbable that the Eastern race is really distinct. Mr. Blyth appears to 

 consider the Tibetan bird identical with the European, (Ibis, 1870, p. 169, 

 note,) and I learn from- Captain Elwes that Dr. Jerdon is of the same opi- 

 nion, indeed he placed O. Tibetanus amongst the doubtful species in his 

 Appendix. 



1. 2. 3. 4. 



Male. Female. Sex not ascertained. 



Length, 27' 255 2575 255 



Wing 19-25 19" 18'75 19' 



Tail, 11'5* 10'75 11- 11' 



Tarsus 3* 2'4f 2-75 275 



Length of bill from gape, 325 2*85f 3' 3' 



Height of ditto, 13 l'lf 1-25 1-25 



The wings when closed just reach the end of the tail which is very 

 distinctly wedge-shaped. Iris very dark brown. 



Ravens were not seen much below 14,000 feet, but above that elevation 

 they were common both on the Chola range and in Northern Sikkim. 



660 Coevus Vaillajstti,J Less. (G. culminatus, Sykes). — Some specimens 

 from Northern Sikkim are so much larger than any from the plains of India 

 ■ishat I am strongly disposed to think them distinct, but other specimens from 

 the same locality are no larger than those from Calcutta. 



There is considerable variation in the size of this species in India, as 

 the following series of measurements will shew : — 



* In the dried specimen the tail measures only 10 - 5, and the height of the bill is 

 1*15, tarsus 2'7. 



t These measurements are from the dried skin. 



% Lord Walden in the Ibis, 1868, p. 165, note, has pointed out that Lesson's name 

 C. Levaillantii fpotius Vaillcmti) has priority over Sykes's. 



