1844.] Synopsis of Indian Fringillida, 963 



I have reason to believe that the series of Alaudina here given is yet 

 incomplete; but that very few species, on the whole, remain to be 

 added to the present synopsis of Indian Fringillida, notwithstanding 

 that many more are currently ascribed to India in the old systematic 

 works. With the assistance of the accompanying plate, little difficulty 

 will be found in recognising the various divisions of these birds, which 

 I have seen reason to adopt, if the descriptions themselves do not suffice 

 for the purpose ; and I may hope and expect that this endeavour at 

 reducing the group to something like order, will lead to further examina- 

 tions, more especially in the Himalaya and to the westward, in which 

 latter direction we have at present by far the most to learn of the Zoo- 

 logy of India. 



Of the birds noticed in this paper, the following species are all that 

 are absolutely wanting to the Society's Museum : — Passer pyrrhopterus, 

 P. (?) concolor, Pyrrhuloides epaulatta, Carduelis caniceps and C. Bur- 

 toni, Emberiza flavicollis, E. sordida, and E. Buchanani, and the male 

 of Pyrrhospiza punicea, and female Passer pyrrhonotus : but better 

 specimens are desirable of many more, as especially Proparus chrysotis, 

 Parus (or SylviparusJ modestus, P. dichrous, P. oemodius, P. melanolophos, 

 P. iouschistos, and P. erythrocephalus, Passer pyrrhonotus, Amadina 

 acuticauda, Estrelda formosa, Pyrrhula nipalensis and P. erythrocephalus, 

 Chrysomitris spinoides, Emberiza Lathami, E. icterica, and Alauda raytal ; 

 and, in general, specimens of the Himalayan Fringillida are very accept- 

 able, for transmission to the Honorable Company's and different Euro- 

 pean national Museums. 



blackish on the sides of the fore-neck meeting across : tail, excepting its middle fea- 

 thers, having a subterminal dusky band, and tipped with pale fulvescent: also a pale 

 superciliary streak to sides of occiput; and the beak and legs pale. 



