ERYTHROSPIZA INCARNATA, Sev. 



Rosy Finch. 



Erythrospiza incarnata, Severtzow, Turkest. Jevotn. pp. 64, 117. — Dresser, Ibis, 1875, p. 245. 

 Carpodacus mongolicus, Swinhoe, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1870, p. 447. 



Judging from the numerous specimens that have come under my notice during the last few 

 years, this bird must be a very common species on the great tableland of Central Asia. Capt. 

 Biddulph appears to have found it plentiful at Cashgar, and the Russian traveller Severtzow in 

 the countries more to the northward. Having received a visit from the latter gentleman during 

 his late sojourn in London, he discovered, among other species of Asiatic Finches in my collection, 

 his Erythrospiza incarnata, under which name I had prepared my Plate for the ' Birds of Asia ;' 

 but further research convinced him that the Carpodacus mongolicus of Swinhoe was the same bird, and 

 that his (Severtzow's) name ought to be placed as a synonym. I greatly regret that this confusion 

 should have occurred ; but it may be set right by any future ornithologist who may be writing 

 on the birds of this group. I received the following note from M. Severtzow, written after a 

 visit to Mr. Swinhoe : — 



" Sir, — I went from you to Mr. Swinhoe and saw the original types of his Erythrospiza mon- 

 golica. It is quite identical (alas !) with my C. incarnata, and different from your specimen shot 

 at Kalgan which you showed me. 



" The types of E. mongolica have faint rosy superciliar streaks, but no rose-colour on the 

 crown, middle of the abdomen white, and white-edged tail-quills — all characters of my E. incarnata. 



" Your E. mongolica differs from the type, (1) by the purplish rose-shaded crown, (2) by the 

 rosy abdomen, (3) by the absence of white edges on the tail ; the rump-feathers are wanting. 



" Accordingly, the bird of Kalgan appears to be undescribed. 



" Yours, very truly, 



"N. SEVERTZOW." 



Ornithologists are much indebted to Mr. Dresser for his translation of Severtzow's book, without 

 which the original work would have been inaccessible to the student ; and we are therefore able 

 to give the following note of Dr. Severtzow's on the present species : — 



" This bird is a resident in Turkestan, and is found after the breeding-season in flocks of 

 from 50 to 100 individuals. It was killed at the end of September on the Issik-kul, in 

 August and October on the Upper Narin, at an elevation of from 9000 to 10000 feet ; in 

 vvinter, however, it is not found higher than 2000 feet. In the steppes, everywhere, in summer 

 as well as in autumn and winter, we found this bird only near stony or clayey places. In 

 autumn and spring it moves about very much, feeding on small seeds, and avoids the woods and 

 even the bushes. It runs very fast, although it has such short legs ; and it flies swiftly and 

 well." Dr. Scully, who identifies the species with Carpodacus mongolicus, writes as follows : — 

 " This species is only a winter visitant to Eastern Turkestan, and even then is not common ; 

 it is said to migrate eastwards, towards China, in the spring. Near Yarkand it frequents a sort of 

 desert-bush called kamghah, on the seeds of which it appears to feed. It is rather a favourite 

 cage-bird with the Yarkandis, on account of its sweet song ; and to this circumstance I am indebted 

 for my specimen, purchased in June in Yarkand. The Turki name for this species is Tagh 

 tumochuk (' the mountain-tumochuk '), the latter being the name of Erythrospiza obsoleta ; so that 

 the Yarkandis would appear to be d'accord with M. Severtzow as to the genus to which the bird 



belongs." 



Mr. Swinhoe described his C. mongolicus in the ' Proceedings ' of the Zooological Society for 



1870 ; and in the same Journal for the year 1871 (p. 387) he further writes concerning the 



species : — " On the western hills near Pekin. Resident in Ordo (David)" 



The following description of Dr. Severtzow's is copied from Mr. Dresser's paper (/. e.) : — 

 "Adult male in autumn dress. Crown, back, and shoulders greyish sandy brown, with lighter 



edges and dark central lines ; hind neck and cheeks similar, but without dark lines ; superciliary 













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