946 Synopsis of Indian FringilUdce. [No. 156. 



1. Passer domesticus (?), Lin. ; P. indicus, Jardine and Selby, ///. Orn., 

 1st. series, pi. CXVIII. I have had no opportunity of comparing Euro- 

 pean and Indian specimens of the common Sparrow of the respective 

 regions ; but it has always seemed to me, judging from recollection, 

 that the upper parts of the male are somewhat redder, the under parts 

 whiter, and that the females are decidedly paler altogether, in the Indian 

 than in the British Sparrow : but the Indian bird certainly is no* 

 " smaller in all its proportions," as stated by Messrs. Jardine and Selby ; 

 nor are the upper parts of the male nearly so red as represented in their 

 plate. The common Sparrow of India is generally distributed over 

 the country, even in the hottest districts ; and Mr. Crawfurd notices 

 its abundance in the capital of Siam ; with " more than its European 

 familiarity. In proceeding towards the equator," he adds, " it appears here 

 for the last time, not to my knowledge being found in any Asiatic country 

 to the south of Siam, except in a few spots where it has been introduced 

 by Europeans." ('Embassy to Siam and Cochin China,' p. 432.) 



2. P. pyrrhonotus, Nobis, n. s. Closely resembles the last in plu- 

 mage, but is readily distinguished by its inferior size, its conspicuously 

 smaller bill and feet, and by having the rump feathers dull maronne, 

 instead of greyish- olive. Length about four inches and three-quarters, 

 of wing two and five-eighths, and tail two and one-eighth ; bill to forehead 

 five- sixteenths, and to gape seven- sixteenths of an inch ; tarse barely 

 five-eighths, middle toe and claw five-eighths. Obtained, together with 

 the preceding, at Buhawalpore, in Scinde, by the late Sir Alexander 

 Burnes. The female I have not seen. 



3. P. flaveolus, Nobis, n. s. With a close resemblance in its markings 

 to the common Sparrow, except that the back is not streaked, this 

 pretty species is distinguished by its smaller size and predominating 

 yellowish plumage. The bill somewhat inclines to be slender, and in 

 this respect, as well as in the absence of all streakiness above, some 

 approach is shewn to Gymnoris flavicollis. In the male, the top of the 

 head, nape, and rump, are of a dull light green, inclining to yellowish 

 on the forehead ; the cheeks and sides of the forehead are tolerably 

 bright yellow, and the rest of the under parts are sullied yellow : streak 

 from eye to mouth, and the usual patch on the throat and fore -neck, 



