453 
Birds of the Zarafschan Basin. 
The Wall-Creeper is very common in the plains of Samar¬ 
kand and in the rocky foot-hills in winter : it is much less 
often seen in summer. 
53. SlTTA TEPHRONOTA. 
Sitta tephronota Sharpe, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 4, x. 
p. 450. 
cJ. Hills near Samarkand. 11-15 Oct., 1907. Nos. 76, 
77. 
S. „ „ „ 25 April, 1 June, 1908. 
Nos. 357, 503, 504. 
$ . „ „ „ 19 April, 1908. No. 345. 
$ . Hissar Mts. 20 June, 1908. No. 587. 
Sex doubtful. Hills near Samarkand. 15 Oct., 1907. 
No. 76. 
This Nuthatch is a very common resident in the rocky 
foot-hills between 3000 and 7000 ft., but rarely goes above 
this altitude. On one occasion I found it at 8000 ft. It 
breeds at the end of April. 
54. Hegulus himalayensis. 
Begulus himalayensis Gadow, Cat. B. viii. p. 81. 
$ . Samarkand. 4 Nov.-19 Dec., 1907. Nos. 185, 156, 
157, 236. 
$ . Samarkand. 16 Nov.-19 Dec., 1907. Nos. 186, 237. 
This Gold-Crest is a winter visitor to the Yale of Samar¬ 
kand ; its summer haunts are probably the forests of the 
Tian Shan Mts. 
55. Leptopcecile sophi^e. 
Leptopoecile sophice Gadow r , Cat. B. viii. p. 86. 
S . Hissar Mts. 14-24 June, 1908. Nos. 530, 572, 573, 
574, 583. 
$ . Hissar Mts. 18 June, 1908. No. 538. 
This bird is peculiar to the juniper-groves at 8000 and 
9000 ft. in the mountains, and is generally found in small 
flocks. 
It must breed very early, for on the 18th of June the 
young were fully fledged and flying about. I could not 
