66 



writes (Stray Feathers, iv. p. 171) : — "This species was fairly numerous in the hills on the south 

 side of Eastern Turkestan, at elevations of from 8000 to 13,000 feet. It was first observed near 

 the Chuchu Pass, and was quite common near Gulgun Shah, in the Karakash valley, where a 

 young nestling was obtained, thus proving that the bird breeds in that locality — probably in July 

 and August. The birds flew about in pairs or in small flocks, perpetually twittering, generally 

 perching on the small bushes, but sometimes running among the stones and efflorescent ground 

 in a very similar manner to Calandrella brachydactyla. Only one of the specimens I obtained (a 

 male shot near the Chuchu Pass on the 16th August) has the pink colour on the rump ; and the 

 bird I shot between Balakchi and Gulgun Shah, if it be correctly referred to this species, seems 

 to be abnormally large: length (in the flesh) 5*65, tail 2 - 8." Dr. G. Henderson obtained three 

 examples on the banks of the Arpalak river, in Hill Yarkand, a short distance from where the 

 plains commence ; and Mr. Hume adds that it is occasionally found in Ladak, and he possesses 

 one procured somewhere in Northern Sikkim. Von Pelzeln records it from Lake Gyagar, in 

 Rupshu ; and Colonel Przevalsky, who obtained it in Mongolia, says that he first met with it in 

 Kan-su, where, though it principally frequents the bare mountains, it descends also to the plains, 

 not particularly avoiding inhabited places. In Northern Thibet he found it wintering on the 

 southern slope of the Burham-Bud, and on passage, about the middle of February, in Tsaidam. 



How far north this Twite ranges I am unable to say • but it is not included by any of the 

 Siberian travellers as occurring in that country. Dr. Severtzoff says that he observed it throughout 

 the Irtysch district, southward to Ajagus ; but in Turkestan it is, as a rule, not found further 

 south than Dschulek and Vernoe. 



Respecting the breeding-habits of this bird I find no record ; but it probably approaches 

 closely to its western ally Linota flavirostris. 



The specimens figured are the adult male in summer and the adult in winter above 

 described. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. H. E. Dresser. ' 



a ><5)b,%. Erzeroom (/. Zohrab). c, <3,d,e,f, $. Jany Darya, Turkestan, October 15th (27th) and 17th 

 (29th) (Severtzoff). g, 6 . Leh, Yarkand, July 1st, 1874 (J. Biddulph). 



E Mus. J. Zohrab. 

 a, b, c, d, e,f, g, h. Erzeroom (/. Z.). 



