65 



LINOTA BEEVIKOSTKIS. 



(EASTERN TWITE.) 



Linaria montana, Dickson & Ross, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1832, p. 121, nee Linn. 

 '•Linota brevirostris, Gould," Bp. Comp. List, p. 34 (1838). 

 Acanthis flavirostris, Severtz. Turk. Jevotnie, p. 64 (1873, nee Linn.). 

 Acanthis brevirostris (Gould), Severtz. J. f. Orn. 1874, p. 438. 

 JEgiothus brevirostris (Gould), Oustalet, Ois. de la Chine, p. 547 (1877). 



Figura unica. 

 Henderson & Hume, Lahore to Yarkand, pi. 26. 



<$ ad. ptil. (est. Linota flavirostri similis sed pallidior, plumis in corpore supra pallide fusco et cervino-albido 

 marginatis : uropygio rosaceo : supracaudalibus albis fusco-cervino notatis : rectricibus albo margi- 

 natis : remigibus pallide cervino marginatis, secundariis et tectricibus alarum majoribus cervino-albido 

 apicatis : corpore subtiis pallidiore quam in Linotd flavirostri : subalaribus albis. 



Ad. ptil. hiem. prsecedenti similis sed uropygio haud rosaceo, plumis in corpore supra latius cervino marginatis, 

 mento et gula, ochraceo-cervinis. 



Adult Male in summer (Leh, 1st July). Differs from Linota flavirostris in being very much paler, the upper 

 parts having the feathers margined with pale brownish buff or buffy white ; rump rosy red ; upper tail- 

 coverts white, tinged with brownish buff; tail-feathers margined with white, these margins being 

 broader at the base ; quills margined with buff, the secondaries and larger wing-coverts tipped with 

 buffy white; underparts much paler than in Linota flavirostris; under wing-coverts white. Total 

 length about 5 inches, culrnen 033, wing 3 - 15, tail 2'7, tarsus 0'7. 



Adult Female. Resembles the male, but lacks the red rump. 



Adult in winter (Turkestan, 17th October). Differs from the above in lacking the red on the rump, in 

 having the pale margins to the feathers broader and rather more of a fawn-buff tinge, chin and upper 

 throat pale fawn-buff. 



The present species bears the same relation to Linota flavirostris as Linota exilipes does to 

 Linota rufescens, being in fact a pale-mealy eastern representative of our common Twite, which 

 it replaces in Asia. Its range is but limited ; for, so far as we know at present, it is only found 

 from Asia Minor eastward to Northern Thibet. First described by Mr. Gould (I. c.) as distinct, 

 from examples obtained near Erzeroom, it was noticed there by Messrs. Dickson and Ross in 

 companies from the 20th September to the 18th November; and Mr. Zohrab informs me that 

 he found it very numerous there. According to Dr. Severtzoff, to whom I am indebted for 

 several specimens, this Twite occurs in Turkestan in winter ; but it is rare in Persia, for Major 

 St. John only obtained one pair on the high plateau between Shiraz and Isfahan. Mr. J. Scully 



4k 



