74 W. E. Brooks — Cashmir Birds. [No. 1, 
Alcedo BETOAEEireis. — Excessively abundant in Cashmir and breed- 
ing there very freely. 
Yuinc xouquilla. — Not unfrequent. Breeds in the large orchard at 
Bamu. 
Ceethta Hodgsohi, n. sp. 
The Cashmir creeper is closely affined to C. familiaris, but differs in the 
following respects : — 
1. A much longer bill, which is also much lighter coloured. 
2. Not nearly so rufous in tone, especially as regards rump and upper 
tail coverts. 
3. The spots on the head and back are very white, and the brown of 
the upper surface, especially that of the head, is almost black. This gives 
the Cashmir species a general grey tone, as opposed to the rufous or fulvous 
tone of the European bird. 
4. The English bird has the three outer primaries (including the 
diminutive first) plain brown ; and the fourth is marked with a buff patch 
on the outer web. In the Cashmir bird there are four plain primaries, 
and th affth is marked with the buff patch on outer web. On opening the 
wings of the two birds, it will be found that ' the arrangement of the buff 
and brown of the quill feathers generally differs in position and extent. I 
have no hesitation whatever in separating the Cashmir species. It has also 
a lighter coloured bill and lighter feet and claws. It is found sparingly in the 
pine woods near the snows. It was seen at Gulmurg and also at Sonamurg, 
where Captain Cock took a few nests. The egg is much more densely 
spotted than that of the English creeper, so as almost to hide the reddish 
white ground colour. Size 0 59 to 0 65 long, by 0'48 broad ; time of laying, 
the first week in June. 
I give dimensions of the two species : — 
0. Hodgsoni. 
0. familiaris. 
Length of skin, ... 
Male. 
a 
Male. 
4*75 
r 
Male. 
4-8 
2-4 
* 
Tail, 
2 3 
•67 
•62 
1-2 
2 4 
•42 
Length of foot including claws, 
Mr. Blyth, Ibis for January 1867, identifies a Western Himalayan bird 
with familiaris. I think this specimen will prove to be the present species 
and not familiaris. O. JUmalaycma is found on the south side of the Pir 
Panjal Mountain, but I did not meet with it in Cashmir proper, where it 
is replaced by C. Hodgsoni. 
