84 W. E. Brooks — Cashmir Birds. pso. 1, 



Sxuentjs niiens, Hume. 



The " Stumus unicolor" of Jerdon. This is described in the forth- 

 coming work which includes the ornithology of the Yarkand expedition. 

 It is like S. unicolor, but smaller with shorter wing and more beautiful reflec- 

 tions. It is excessively abundant in Cashmir at moderate elevations and 

 in the valley, and breeds in holes of trees, and in river banks. The eggs are 

 like those of S. vulgaris, but rather smaller. The latter bird occurs plenti- 

 fully in the plains of India in the cold weather, and is as profusely spotted 

 as English specimens. The bills vary in length, and are not longer as a rule 

 than those of the British birds. I did not meet with S. vulgaris in Cash- 

 mir. It appears to migrate more to the west, for it is said to be common in 

 Afghanistan. S. nitens also occurs in the plains in the cold season. I have 

 Etawah specimens. They are at that time slightly spotted, but can always 

 be very easily distinguished from S. vulgaris. 



Embebiza cia, E. Stewaeti and E. ettcata, all breed in Cashmir. 

 The latter bird has the best song of the three. 



Hespebiphona icteeioides. Lays a large egg like a hawfinch. It 

 builds in pine trees. 



Caipodacus erytkrinus and Carduelis caniceps had not laid when I 

 left in June. They are numerous in Cashmir. The former, by dissection, 

 would not lay till late in July, I think. 



Chetsomiteis spen'C-ides. — Frequent on the south side of the Pir Panjal 

 pass. This bird is not a siskin, but a greenfinch allied to C. cliloris. It does 

 not possess the merry song of a siskin, nor any siskin like notes. Its song is 

 the characteristic " beez" of a greenfinch. Any one who has heard the song 

 of the English green grosbeak will know what I mean by the " beez." The 

 " beez" of the Indian so-called " Siskin" is, however, far inferior to that of 

 the greenfinch. 



Mexoponia pusplla. — I saw this bird in flocks at Shupyion in May. 

 The female as well as the male has a red forehead. They breed late. 



Fbixgelauda nemoeicola. — Abundant on the grassy upland slopes of 

 the Pir Panjal mountain. It breeds there, as they were paired and singing 



Ours is a smaller bird, with shorter wing, and in summer is easily distinguished by 

 the rosy hue of its eyebrow and breast, which in the other are rust- colour, the breast 

 being streaked with black. The streaks on the flanks, too, in the latter are much 

 longer and broader." 



From the above note I conclude that there are only two species of red-breasted 

 pipits, and that the following are the synonyms : 



1. A. Cecilii, Audouin. ~) 



' > Ihe European or Western bird. 



A. rufogularis, Brehm. J 



and 



2. A. cervinus, Pall. 

 A. rosaceus, Hodgson. £■ The Eastern or Asiatic bird. 

 A, Japonicus. 



