the birds of south-eastern tibet

35
176 Mi. F. Ludlow on the [Ibis, it clear whether the host’s parasites, or the host’s own flesh, were being eaten ; the bird was, literally, ravenous, it being the height of the dry seaeon, and it was obviously out for anything it could get. Ptilostomus afer (Linnsus). Piapiac. Hosts.-Goats (Jackson) ; cattle (North). Habits.--On 11 February, 1941, I was travelling in northern Uganda, between Gulu and Soroti, and saw a party of these birds, some of which were perching on cattle. I could not stop and ascertain why, nor does Jackson say why it sits on goats. Buphagus spp. Ox-peekers. Hosts.-Cattle, big game (Jackson). Habits.-Eaters of ticks and blood-sucking flies, taken from the backs of their hosts, together with an uncertain proportion of blood and meat, taken from the hosts themselves (Jackson, especially Moreau’s results as quoted). REFERENCES. Birds of Kenya Colony and the Uganda Pro- (I) JACKSON and SCLATER. (2) M.FJNERTZHAC+EN. tectorate ’, 1938. Nicoll’s Birds of Egypt ’, 1930. The Birds of South-eastern Tibet. By F. LUDLOW (with Notes by N. B. KINNEAR). (Continued from p. 86.) (Received 1 October, 1943.) (Plate XIII.). Microseelis psaroides psaroides (Vigors). 4565, 6, Lhalung (7000 ft.), 7 April. Not noticed anywhere in the Tsangpo Valley, not even at Gyala; but Bailey got a specimen at Tongme in Pome, at the junction of the Yigrong with the Po Tsangpo. The following additional Bulbuls were obtained at Diwangiri :- Criniger f. jlaveolus, Ixos f. Jlavala, Alcurus striatus, Molpu,rtes c. bengalensie, Otocompsa, e. jocosa, Otocompsa f. jlaviventris. Certhia familiaris khamensis Sharpe. 3993, 6, Lo La (12,000 ft.), 28 June ; 3999, juv., Lo La (12,000 ft.), 1 July; 4068, J, Langong (12,000 ft.), 16 July; 4127, 0, Sur La (13,500 ft.), 17 August : 4471, 6, Molo (11,000 ft.), 17 April; 4796, juv., Doshong La (12,500 ft-), 16 July ; 4809, 6, Pe (9600 ft.), 18 July ; 4887, 6, Tongkyuk Chu (12,000 ft.), 2 September; 4966, 6, Bimbi La (13,000 ft.), 14 October; 4971-2, $6, Podzo Sumdo (12,000 ft.), 15 October.

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176 M i . F. Ludlow on the [Ibis,

it clear whether the host’s parasites, or the host’s own flesh, were being eaten ; the bird was, literally, ravenous, it being the height of the dry seaeon, and i t was obviously out for anything it could get.

Ptilostomus afer (Linnsus). Piapiac. Hosts.-Goats (Jackson) ; cattle (North). Habits.--On 11 February, 1941, I was travelling in northern Uganda,

between Gulu and Soroti, and saw a party of these birds, some of which were perching on cattle. I could not stop and ascertain why, nor does Jackson say why i t sits on goats.

Buphagus spp. Ox-peekers. Hosts.-Cattle, big game (Jackson). Habits.-Eaters of ticks and blood-sucking flies, taken from the backs

of their hosts, together with an uncertain proportion of blood and meat, taken from the hosts themselves (Jackson, especially Moreau’s results as quoted).

REFERENCES. ‘ Birds of Kenya Colony and the Uganda Pro- ( I ) JACKSON and SCLATER.

(2) M.FJNERTZHAC+EN. tectorate ’, 1938.

‘ Nicoll’s Birds of Egypt ’, 1930.

The Birds of South-eastern Tibet. By F. LUDLOW (with Notes by N. B. KINNEAR).

(Continued from p. 86.) (Received 1 October, 1943.)

(Plate XIII.). Microseelis psaroides psaroides (Vigors). 4565, 6, Lhalung (7000 ft.), 7 April. Not noticed anywhere in the Tsangpo Valley, not even at Gyala;

but Bailey got a specimen at Tongme in Pome, at the junction of the Yigrong with the Po Tsangpo.

The following additional Bulbuls were obtained a t Diwangiri :- Criniger f. jlaveolus, Ixos f . Jlavala, Alcurus striatus, Molpu,rtes c . bengalensie, Otocompsa, e. jocosa, Otocompsa f. jlaviventris.

Certhia familiaris khamensis Sharpe. 3993, 6, Lo La (12,000 ft.), 28 June ; 3999, juv., Lo La (12,000 ft.),

1 Ju ly ; 4068, J, Langong (12,000 ft.), 16 July; 4127, 0, Sur La (13,500 ft.), 17 August : 4471, 6, Molo (11,000 ft.), 17 April; 4796, juv., Doshong La (12,500 ft-), 16 July ; 4809, 6, Pe (9600 ft.), 18 July ; 4887, 6, Tongkyuk Chu (12,000 ft.), 2 September; 4966, 6, Bimbi La (13,000 ft.), 14 October; 4971-2, $6, Podzo Sumdo (12,000 ft.), 15 October.

1944.1 Birds of Xouth-eastern Tibet. 177

All the above appear to belong to the grey race, C. f. khamensis. They are not nearly so rusty on the upper surface as C. f. mandelli from Bhutan.

[The juvenile is greyer and less rusty, especially on the rump. 9 $, wing 68-72, bill 17-18 mm. C. f. mandelli, 4 8, 68-70,16.5-17 mm.]

Certhia nipalensis Blyth. 3582, 3, Chungkar (6000 ft.), 24 February ; 3627, 9, Takhto (7000 ft.),

10 March; 3632, 6, Sakden (9500 ft.), 11 March; 4481, 8, Lo La (11,500 ft.), 24 April.

[These birds are very richly coloured on the flanks with rusty cinnamon, which disappears in old skins.]

Tiehodroma muraria (Linnseus). 3634, 6, Sakden (9500 ft.), 12 March.

Troglodytes troglodytes nipalensis Blyth. 3698, $, Pangchen (7000 ft.), 27 March ; 3898-3900, 998, Migyitun

(12,500 ft.), 30 May ; 3916, 8, Bimbi La (14,000 ft.), 3 June ; 3925, 2, Bimbi La (12,000 ft.), 5 June ; 4000-1, o 0, Lo La. (13,500 ft.), 2 July ; 4108-0, 3, juv., Kashong La (15,000 ft.), 18 July ; 4120, juv., Traken La (16,000 ft.), 11 August; 4749, juv., Nyima La (12,500 ft.), 4 July : 4970, $2, Bimbi La (13,000 ft.), 15 October ; 4982, 3, Gyandro (12,500 ft.), 24 October.

We found i t quite common in summer in the alpine zone both north and south of the main range. It also occurs in conifer forest a t somewhat lower elevations.

At Migyitun on 30 May, between 12,500 and 13,000 ft., we found two nests each a c/4. Both nests were built under an overhanging cliff- face and were made of dried grass, covered 011 the outside with green moss and profusely lined with feathers inside. Amongst the feathers we noted those of Tarsiger, Lerwa and Tetranphasis. The entrance hole was near the top of the nest.

A third nest, discovered on 10 June on the Himbi La at 12,000 ft., was placed in a hole in a birch tree about 12 ft. from the ground, and contained four hard-set eggs.

The eggs are typical Wren’s eggs-white, with a few small rcd-brown specks.

Skin no. 4982 has been included here, though, with a wing measure- ment of 56 mm., it is probably T . t . fibetanus (Walton). No. 4120, a plaeau bird from the dry zone, is also probably T . t. tibetanus. [4 $, wing 50-54, bill 13-14 mm. ; 4 9, wing 50-51, bill 13-5-14 mm. ;

3 8, Bhutan, wing 50-52, bill 14 mm. ; 3 9, wing 40, bill 13-14 mm. ;

Hitherto this race has not been recorded east of Bhutan.

178 Mr. P. Ludlow on the [Ibis,

29 unsexed, Nepal and Sikkim, wing 45-5-53, bill 54 mm. The single adult of T. t. tibetanus only differs in size : 6, wing 56, bill 14.5 mm. Four males from Gyantse measure : wing 64-59, bill 14 ; 2 9, wing 50, bill 14 mm.]

Spelsornis soulei soulei Oustalet. 4020-4, d juv. juv. juv., Nyug La (10,000 ft.), 5 July. These Pachakshiri birds apparently belong to the typical race,

since the throat is blotched with brown instead of being pure white as in 8. s. shew@. This bird does not differ from S. s. sherrifi in its habits. The above specimens wcrc all shot whilst clambering about mossy tree-trunks in thick deciduous and rhododendron forest. We saw this bird again on the Nyug La in the spring of 1938, but failed to obtain specimens.

[The two adult breeding birds are very similar, but the female has rather larger markings on the head, similar to an unsexed specimen from Tengyueh, Yunnan, but whether this is sexual it is impossible to say without further material. In the juvenile the markings on the head are brown instead of white, and the throat and chest rusty brown, becoming paler on the belly. Of the three juveniles, two have darker heads with narrower markings, while the third resembles a juvenile from Tengyueh in this respect.

$, wing 49, tail 43, bill 11.6 mm. ; 9, wing 50, tail 47, bill 11.5 mm. : ? Tongyueh, wing 51, tail 49, bill 12 mm.

Dr. Mayr doubts the validity of S. s. shew@, but the two adult specimens are an additional proof that it is a good race. These skins, together with the one from Yunnctn, ha\ e less white on the underside, and with the exception of a few streaks on the breast and belly it ,is confined to the throat. In S. s. s h y ; # the throat, is pure white and not intermingled with brown. On the sides of the head and neck the arrow-shaped white marks are smaller and pure white, while the ear- coverts lack the silvery tint. Unfortunately the plate of s. s. sherrifi is badly reproduced.]

SpelBornis eaudata (Blyth) . 4259-60, 9 8, Chungkar (6000 ft.), 7 November ; 5034, 5’) Chungkar

(6500 ft.), 16 November. These specimens come from exactly the samc locality as those we

obtained in 1934 (Ibis, 1937, p. 253), and I have never seen them else- where. They haunt dense fern and shrub undergrowth in temperate rain forest, and a6 they keep close to the ground and are very silent, it is extremely difficult to catch even a glimpse of them. The above three specimens represent a whole week spent in their pursuit. I heard no song, but the alarm note is a low quiet ‘‘ birrh, birrh, birrh ’’*

1944.1 Birds of South-eastern Tibet. 179'

uttered for rather lengthy periods when disturbed. The only way I could obtain specimens was to walk slowly through the forest listening intently for this sound, and then waiting mchionless until curiosity impelled the bird to come to the surface of the undergrowth to ascertain the cause of the disturbance.

[The male in the present collection is slightly darker on the throat and broast than the females, but this does not appear to be a sexual difference, as the two females collected in 1931 have very rusty throats and breasts. 3, wing 46 ; 9, wing, 47-48 mm.]

Pnoegyga albiventer albiventer (Hodgson.) 3597, 8, Ytinpula (8000 ft.), 29 February ; 3667, $?, Changpu (6500 ft.),

d l March ; 3673, 6, Gyipu (SSOOft.), 23 March ; 3807,3, Lung (12,000 ft.), 30 April; 4016, juv., Lo La (9000 ft.), 4 Ju ly ; 4019, 6, Nyug La (12,000 ft.), 5 July ; 4010, 9, Nyug La (11,000 ft.), 8 July ; 4017, juv., Nyug La (10,500 ft.), 9 Ju ly ; 4056-8, 6 6 5, Lo La (10,000 ft.), 12 July ; 4061, $?, Lo La (10,000 ft.), 12 July ; 4141-3, 6. juv. 8, Migyitun (9300 ft.), 26 August ; $242, 4256, o 9, Khomanagri (4000 ft.), 6 Novem- ber ; 4264, 6, Chungkar (6000 ft.), 8 November; 4588, 9, Lo La (10,000 ft.), 13 May ; 4891, 6, Chunyima (10,000 ft.), 5 September.

As we have already seen (Ibis, 1937, pp. 254-256), the Scaly-breasted Wren is exceedingly common in Bhutan. I n 1936 and 1938 we found it equally common in the damp forested areas of the Subansiri and Siyom. It does not occur north of the main range, but is numerous a t Lung and Migyitun, where the Chayul and Gsari Rivers are cutting their way through the Himalayan axis. We also found it near Tongkyuk in Yome, showing a penetration up the Tsangpo Gorge. It is strange that further eastwards there should be so few records. It should occur in Northern Burma, but Cranbrook did not obtain it, and it is not listed by Stanford and 'l'icehurst in their Birds of Northern Burma '.

Forrest obtained a siitgle specimen from the Shweli Valley in Yunnan which Rothschild (Nov. Zool. xxxii. p. 297) made a new race of, describing it as P. a. mugnirostris.

In April 1938 I heard the spring song of this Wren in Pachakshiri, where it is very abundant. It is a pretty trill of seven or eight notes, quite indescribable, but quite distinct from tho double-noted whistle of

[12 $, wing 59-64, exposed culnien 13-146 mm. ; 5 9, wing 59-62,

Of the seventeen adults, ten are buff on the underside, three white, A single Szechuan skin from Lungan does not

This bird is rare in Yunnan and only

P . p . pusilla.

exposed culmen 13-5-14.6 mm.

and four intermediate. ditfer from Sikkim specimens.

180 Mr. F. Ludlow on the [Ibis,

two appear to be known, one collected in the Shiweli Valley in 1924, the type of P. a. magnirostris Rothschild, and another near Tengyueh, taken by Forrest in September 1931. This last measures : wing 66, exposed culmen 9.5 mm. According to Rothschild, P. a. ‘magnirostris has a wing of 63 and bill 11 mm. Stanford collected three on the Yunnan border in 1938 with wings of 60-62 mm.]

Pnoepyga pusilla pusilla Hodgson. 3589, 3, Jiri Chu (3500 ft.), 28 February ; 4381, 6, Lung (9200 ft.),

19 October ; 1570, 6, Lhalung (8000 ft.), 9 May. Except in Bhutan and Paehakshiri we were never really low enough

for this bird. It was quite common in the latter district, and its notes were often heard, but we made no effort to collect specimens.

[3 3, wing 48-53 mm.] Tesia cyaniventer Hodgson. Three males and one female, all from Lhalung, between 7000-8000 ft. Abundant in the forests around Lhalung, but not observed or heard

north of the main range. The above specimens help to reinforce my contention (vide Ibis, 1937, pp. 256-258) that the Slaty-bellied Wren of the temperate regions in summer is a pale-bellied bird with an olive- green crown concolorous with the back. I have now shot twenty-four specimens of this bird, from 6000 ft. upwards, and SO far I have not met with a single specimen belonging to the dark-bellied form a t these altitudes.

[3 $, wing 51-53 ; 1 9, wing 49 mm.] Tesia olivea (McClelland) . Three females, one male, and one unsexed, all from Diwangiri in

We also found it common below Rhenok in February and November. Sikkim.

[l 8, wing 48 ; 3 Q, wing 46-48 mm.]

Tesia castaneocoronata (Burton). 3531-2, 8 9, Diwangiri (2000 ft.), 19 February ; 3873, 6, Migyitun

(10,500 ft.), 24 May ; 4015, juv., Lo La (9000 ft.), 4 July ; 4049, 9, Nyug La (10,500 ft.), 9 July ; 4368, 0, Diwangiri (2000 ft.), 23 November.

I have no record of this bird from any area north of the main range, though it occurs a t Migyitun. It was abundant in Pachakshiri between 7000 and 10,500 ft. in May 1938, but w0 took no specimens.

Cinclus cinclus cinclus (Linnzus) . 4175, 9, Bimbi La (12,500 ft.), 13 September; 4193, 0, Lo La

(15,500 ft.), 2 October ; 4460, y, Molo (11,000 ft.), 14 April ; 4669, p, Lusha La (12,000 ft.), 10 June.

[3 9, wing 88-93 mm.]

1944.1 Birds of South-eastern Tibet. 181

Not observed on the Tsangpo itself, which is too big and muddy,

Heteroxenieus stellatus stellatus (Gould) . 3901-2, 6.8, Na La (Migyitun, 13,000 ft.), 30 May ; 3988, Lo La

(12,000 ft.), 27 ,June ; 4004, 8, Lo La (12,500 ft.), 3 July ; 4151, 0, Na La, Migyitun (13,500 ft.), 1 September ; 4382, 6 , Lung (8500 ft.), 22 October ; 4589, 6, Lo La ( 1 1,500 ft.), 14 May.

Gould's Short-wing has been found in Eastern Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan, and the above specimens extend its range still further eastwards. Delacour (Ibis, 1930, p. 577) discovered D doubtfully distinct race a t Chapa, in Northern Tonkin, and more recently Stanford's collector shot one in N.E. Burma.

All the Short-wings I am acquainted with are skulkers, but H . s. ste1Lctzc.r hardly descrves this epithet. It in- habits dense rhododendron and bamboo growth i t is true, but then it does not shun observation, and will ascend to the tops of t h e hushes to gaze :Lt the intruder in a most confidential manner. Nor is i t always found in dense thickets. NOR. 3901 and 3902, for cxample, were shot amidst a wilderness of rocks and boulders in the dpine zone, far away from all shrub growth ; and what is still more interesting, these birds were undoubtedly breeding amidst these sur- roundings. The two males werc absurdly tame and their genital organs cmormonsly enlarged, lout I failed to find their nest.

1 have a record of this bird from the Bimbi La just north of the main range, but most of the birds we met with in 1936 and 1938 were high up on t'he southern slopes of the range. This Short-wing is certainly not rare on either the Subansiri or Siyom.

but on all its tributaries.

This is a common bird.

Heteroxenicus eruralis (Blyth). 401 3-1 4,d 8, Lo La (10,500 ft.), 4 July ; 4486, 3, Chudi Chu (10,000 ft.),

A common bird in Pachakshiri. [4 8, wing 68-70 ; 1 9, wing 69'mm.l

Hodgsonius phoenicuroides phcenicuroides (Gray). 3524, 8, Diwarigiri (2000 ft.), 18 February ; 3557, 3, Diwangiri

(2000 ft.), 21 February ; 3880, 5, Migyitiin (8500 ft.), 26 May : 3949-51, 8 8 9, Kyimdong Dzong (12,000 ft.), 15 June ; 4111, 8, Gyandro (13,000 ft.), 26 ,July ; 4316, $, Diwarigiri (2000 ft.), 17 November ; 4680, 0, Lusha (9500 ft.), 16 June ; 4712, $, Sang (9500 ft.), 26 June ; 4741, 9, Tumbatse (11,600 ft.), 2 July ; 4764, $, Tripe (9600 ft.), 9 July ; 4783, $., Gyzln (9300 ft.), I 1 July ; 4788, $?? Tripe (9500 ft.), 12 .Jaly ;

25 April ; 4491-2, 8 6, Nyug La (9500 ft.), 26 April.

VOL. 86. 0

182 Mr. P. Ludlow on the [Ibis,

4794, 9, Doshong La (12,500 ft.), 15 July ; Ikk{tc, 9, Gyala (9300 ft.), 23 July ; 4830, 9, Gyala (Y300 ft.), 24 July ; 4959, $, Kyimdong Dzong (1 1,000 ft.), 9 October.

We found this bird rather scarce in Bhutan and S. Tibet in 1933 and 1934 (Ibis, 1937, p. 268), but in succeeding years, as we progressed east- wards, we noticed that i t grew more and more plentiful, until i t became really common in the Tsangpo Valley east of Tsela Dzong. It breeds in summer both north and south of the main range, but is, perhaps, more abundallt to the north. It is found both in forest and in more open country covered with scrub, a t all elevations between 8000 and 13,000 ft. I n winter it descends to the foothills. In the breeding season thiti Short-wing can hardly be called a skulker, and thc male especially may often be seen singing on the tops of bushes.

We found three nests, each with a clutch of three eggs, in June, but unfortunately all were smashed in an accident which happened to one of my bird boxes. They build rather large nests, which are generally lined with moss on, or close to, the ground. The eggs, of course, are a dark unspotted blue. Young males appear to moult into the femalr plumage before assuming the adult dress. No. 3880 is in an inter- mediate stage with a few blue feathers Rhowing.

Saxicola torquata indica (Blyth). 4181-2, o 0, Cha La (13,000 ft.), 21 September ; 4332, 0, Diwangiri

Passes through S.E. Tibet on spring and I-Lutumn migration.

Rhodophila ferrea ferrea (Gray). 3697, $, Pangchen (7000 ft.), 27 March; 4893, 9, Tongkyuk Chu

Common in Eastern Bhutan and Monyul, hnt scarce in thc Tssngpo

Enieurus maculatus guttatus Gould. 4301, $, Diwangiri (2000 ft.), 15 November. I Baw no Forktails in Kongho, Pome, or E'achakshiri. Microcichla s. scouleri was observed in the Nyam .Tang Chi] Valley at

Phcenieurus frontalis Blyth. 3653, 8, Gamri Chu (6500 ft.), 16 March : 3A51, 9, Yamp ( n i w

Chikchar) (1.2,OOO ft.), 19 May. In 1933 and 1934 we did not observe this Redstart in Tibet north of

the main range, and T was rmh enough to remark tlhat it) did not occur in this area (Ibis, 1937, p. 269). This is incorrect. The Blue-fronted Redatart certainly occurs north of the main range in the Takpo and

(1500 ft.), 19 November.

(8500 ft.), 4 September.

Valley.

7000 ft.

1944.1 Birds of South-eastern Tibct. 183

Kongbo districts of S.E. ‘l‘ibet, though not so plentifully as on thc south- facing slopes. Thc only specimen I took (no. 3851) was caught on a nest containing four eggs. 1 could have taken many more specimens had I wished.

PhQnicurus schisticeps (Gray). 3572, 8, Chungkar (6500 ft.), 23 February ; 3633, tJ, Sakden (9500 ft.),

12 March ; 39.58, <J, Taktsa ( I 3,000 ft.), 19 June ; 3960-1, 8 9, Lilung Valley (13,000 ft.), 21 Junc; 3980, juv., Molo (11,200 ft.), 23 June; 4075, 6, Langong (12,000 ft.), 17 <July ; 4458, 6, Molo (11,000 ft.), 14 April ; 4678, $, Liisha (9600 ft.), 16 June ; 4693, $, Lusha (9500 ft.), 17 ,Time ; 4801, jiw., Pe (10,000 ft.), 17 July.

I must correct my estimate of the summer range of this Redstart given in ‘The Ibis’ for 1837, p p 269-270. Although I have never seen this bird south of the main range during the breeding season, I found it abundant a t this time of the year on the upper reaches of the Bubansiri, and in the Tsangpo Valley between Nang Dzong and Gyala. I found no nest, but it undoubtedly breeds in the above areas in con-

I have seen i t in fairly thick forest, but the zone itr favours most is the shrub growth in the semi-dry area along the banks of these rivers. 1 t also occurs commonly in forested areas which have been burnt. I have never seen it in summer in the alpine zone above the tree line, and it is most abundapt at the lowest levels, i. e., between 9500 and 10,500 ft. In the ‘ Fauna ’ it is said to occur a t 15,000 ft., :md even 17,000 ft., but I havc no record of it from anything approaching t3hese high altitudes. A vmy conspicuoiis bird, and rather shy in consequence.

[8 8, wing 81-86 ; 1 9, wing 80 mm.] Phcenicurus auroreus (Pallas). 3812, $, Natrampa (10,000 ft.), 3 May ; 4230, Q, Yonpu La (8000 ft.),

31 October ; 4652, 9, Tsela Dzong (9800 ft.), 1 June ; 4696, 8, Lusha (9500 ft.), 18 June; 4778, juv., Gyala (9300 ft.), 10 Ju ly ; 4802, 8, Pt. (10,500 ft.), 17 July ; 4956, y , Charigrong (10,200 ft.), 5 October ; 4958,$, Kyimdong Dzong (1 1,000 ft.), 9 October.

What I have said about P . schisticeps applies also to this species. The two birds are equally common in 8.E. Tibet arid havc a similar siinimer zonal distribution north of the main range.

We found two nests. The first was discovcred on 3 May at Natrampa, on the Chayul Chu. It was placed in a hole in a bank near a path and was empty. Thc second nest was found a t Tse, near Tsela Dzong, on 1 June, and contained four eggs on tile point of hatching. This nest was also placed in a hole in a bank, and was a neat affair of moss and

0 2

184 Mr. F. Liidlow on, the [Ibis,

bents lined with horse-hair. The eggs were pale green with a ring of light brown spots a t the broad end and a few elsewhere. The four eggs averaged 18 x 14.5 mm., but I was nnt~ble to preserve them.

Bailey obtained two nests in 1913 ; one c/3 a t Tripe on the Tsangpo, at the foot of Namcha Barwa, on 17 July, and a second c/3 at Timpa, opposite Pe, on 5 August, so the breeding season is a protracted one.

Phcenicurus hodgsoni (Horsfield &, Moore). 3700, d, Pangchen (7000 ft.), 28 March; 3816, d , Chayul Dzong

(11,000 ft.), 5 May ; 4713, juv., Sang (9500 ft.), 26 June. A bird of the dry barren uplands north of the main range during

the breeding season. No. 3700 was one of many other birds of the same species working their way up the Nyam .Tang Chu Valley to their breeding grounds further north.

Phcmiczcrus 0. r ~ ~ v ~ ~ ~ r ~ ~ (Vieillot) was also often seen in tht: more arid parts of S.E. Tibet north of the main range.

[Walton obtained a male at Gyantse on 8 July and another with a juvenile female a t Chaksam on 30 July. The juvenile is in the Hame stage of plumage as that obtained by Mr. Ludlow.]

Phcenicurus erythrogaster grandis (Goiild) . 3637, 9, Sakden (9500 ft.), 13 March ; 1214, 6, Gyandro (12,500 ft.),

10 October ; 4879, juv., Pasum La (16,000 ft.), 23 August ; 4978-9, 8 3, Le La (16,000 ft.), 23 October.

I have a sight observation of this bird from the Lusha La on the main range at 13,000 ft. on 13 June, and this is t'he only record I have of i t in the wet zone. It is essentially a bird of high altitudes on the drier ranges north of the great rain screen. The vast, majority of birds appear to winter in scrub jungle in the valley beds at no great distance from their summer quarters, but a few cross the main range and winter on its southern slopes.

[In 1922 Kleinschnmidt gave the name P. e . rna,ximus to three examples of this Redstart from E. Tibet on account of their large size (2 6, I 1 0 : 1 2, 104 mm.). I have already pointed oiit that if the eastern race is to be recognized, the name must he P. e . vigorsi of Moore, the tybe of which was collected by Pemberton in Bhutan (9, wing 104 mm.). Prom the measurements given below it doe0 not appear to he a good race.

Gilgit and Kashmir: 23 d, 101-108, 109; 15 $!, 95, 96-103 mm. (B.M. and Whistler).

Tian Shan and Turkestan : 27 3, 99-109 ; 6 2, 96-100 mm. S. and E. Tibet: 5 J, 102-11 I ; 5 0, 98-106 mm. (Ludlow). E. Tibet: 11 d, 103-110; 1 1 3, 95-104 mm. (Schiifer). N. Kansu : 17 d, 101-108; 4 9, 101-104 mm. (Schiifer). Kansu ; 4 d, 106-1 11 ; 5 9, 95-104 mm. (Stre~emann)].

1944.1 Birds of S ~ ~ t i ~ - e c l s k r t ~ Tibet, 185

Chaimarrornis leucocephala (Vigors). 3973, 3, Molo (11,200 ft.), 23 June. This bird and Rhyacornis J’. fuliginosu both occur on forested streams

[Wing 95 mm.]

Grandala caelicolor calicolor Hodgson. 3734-41, $2 ‘2 2 o 6 6 8 d, Tsona (14,800 ft.), 12 April; 4787, 6,

Pero La (near Pe) (14,000 ft.), 10 July ; 4793, 6, Doshong La (13,000 ft.),

On 12 April, 1936, aftrr we had crossed the Y o La and reached the Tibetan Plateau, we encountered a hugh flock (2005300) of these birds feeding on a swampy marsh near ‘kona. We saw Grandalas again on various high passes in S.E. Tibet, both in iY36 and 1938. This is one of the few bfrds which seems to prefer the rain-swept ridges of the main range to those of the drier ranges behind the rain screen.

In the autumn 1 have noticed them circling in the air for the pure enjoyment of the exercise. Their effortloss flight has been likened by various observers to that of a Starling, a Thrush and a Rock-Thrush ; but to my mind it is more like that of the European Bee-eater than any other bird with which I am acquainted.

Whymper appears to be the only collector who has ever taken the eggs of this hird, but Sherriff, writing to me from the Black Mountain in Central Bhutan on 21 June, 1937, says :-

1 have found one, but i t had chicks ten days old. Had there been eggs I could not have got them. The nest was placed on a ledge under an overhanging cliff; and below was a drop of 20 feet sheer. The nest was of dried grass, strongly built, covered with moss and lined with some soft material. Altitude 14,5000 ft.”

At a later date he writes : ‘‘ Herewith a portion of ail egg picked up below t,he nest of Grunduln cdicolor on 9 July, 1937, a t 15,000 feet a t Changsethang, on the Mangde Chu, Central Bhutan .The nest contained two nearly full-grown young which the parents were feeding every ten minutes. Both parents were watched for some time, and the female was observed from a distance of 5 feet. Nest on a perpendicular rock- face, perched on ;t very small sloping ledge. About 3“ inside diameter, made of dry grass and lined with feathers of Lerwa and other bir& ”.

Tho eggs, as remarked by Whymper, have a meruline appearance, and it should be noted that neither Whymper nor Mherriff found more than two eggs or two young birds in a nest.

The statemcnts in the ‘ Fauna ’ t,o the effect that these birds do not venture “ even in winter below some 10,000 feet ”, and that ‘ I as far aa is

iit Takpo, Kongbo and Pachakshiri.

1 5 July.

‘. Is the nest of Gra!ndala known 7

186 Mr. F. Ludlow orb the [Ibis,

known these birds are entirely insectivorous '',. stand in need of cor- rection ; Cranbrook (Journ. €3. N. H. B. vol. xxxvii. p. 358) records Grandalas from the Adung Valley a t 6900 feet on 13 February, and states that their crops contained fruits and seeds of Vuccinium. Their partiality for Vacc in ium berries I also recorded in ' The ibis ' for 1937 (p. 271).

Meinertzhagen (Ibis, 1927, p. 580) says that he was infcwmed that Grandalas in Sikkim " often come down t o fruit trees in autumn and are well known to the natives, who regard them as one of thc most destructive fruit robbers ".

[There is no difference in colour between the supposed east and west races of thiR bird, and in the measurements there is much overlap.

Mussoorie, Kishenjunga, 7 8, 143-148 ; Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, 18 8, 140-150; 8. Tibet (Ludlow), 4 8, 145-149; Tsangpo Valley (Ludlow), 2 3, 140-142 ; E. Tibet, 4 8, 142-145 (Schiifer) ; Szechuan, 3 $, 136-142 (B.M.) ; 4 $, 138-145 (Schafer) ; 14 $, 138-144 (Klein- Schmidt) ; Kansu, 3 8, 140-145 mm. (Stresemann).]

Cyanosylvia sp. There are no Blue-throats in S.E. Tibet in summer, but they paw

through on autumn migration, and were observed in Tsari in September 1936 and on the Bimbi La in October 19368.

Cyanosylvia pectoralis tschebaiewi (Prjevalsky). 3941, $, Bimbi La (13,500 ft .) , 9 June; 4102, 9, Lapu (Tsari)

(15,000 ft.), 16 June ; 4110, 8, Kashong La (14,000 ft.), 21 July ; 4117, 8, Traken La (16,500 ft.), 10 August ; 4314, 8, Diwangiri ( Z O O 0 ft.), 16 November ; 4674, 9, Lusha La (14,000 ft.), 12 June ; 4727, 8, Sang La (14,000 ft.), 28 June ; 4731, juv., Sang La (14,000 ft.), 29 June ; 4733, 6, Sang La (14,000 ft.), 29 June ; 4735, 9, Sang La (14,000 ft.), 30 June ; 4747-8, s 3, Nyima La (14,500 ft.), 4 July ; 4799, d, Doshong La (13,000 ft.), 16 July ; 4852, 8, Langong (14,000 ft.), 4 June ; 4905, 8, Mira La (14,500 ft.), 15 August.

In ' The Ibis ' for 1937 (p. 272) I recorded a female and juvenile C'. p . confusa (Hartert) from the Yu La in Bhutan. '1 must confess 1 an1 now rather sceptical about the correctness of this identification. Female Ruby-throats are very difficult to distinguish, and i t is significant that during our journeys in 1933, 1934, 1936 and 1938 we did not obtain a single specimen of a male C . y. confusci ; nor did we see any, though I examined large numbers of Ruby-throats through binoculars.

Ruby-throats are very common indeed in transition-zone country from Bhutan castwards to the bend of the Tsangpo, but all the males we obtained, arid examined t,lirough glasses, w e r ~ C'. p . tschebaieui.

1944.1 Birds of South-easkm Tibet. 187

Bailey obtained eggs (013) of this bird at Poda (lat. 29' 18', long. 97" 05') on 26 June, 1912.

The females of this species sometimes have rcd chin-feathers, and also an indication of a white moustachial streak.

[l'icehurst, Ibis, 1940, p. 329, has reviewed the different races of this bird, and it is wident that Mr. Ludlow is correct in pointing out that the female and juvenile obtained in 1933 belong to this race and not to C. p . confusa. ,4s Ticehurst has shown, some femalcs of C. p . tschebuiewi cannot be distinguished from C. confusa, and this particular bird is one. The acquisition of additional juveniles from both Tibet and Nepal criabled the distinguishing characters to be described by Ticehurst, and the Yu La, 1933, juvenile is evidently 6'. p . tschebaiewi. All the females listed above are clearly C'. p . tschebaiewi, with the moustachial streak-like male. Judging by the males, C'. p . confusa does not occur cast of fiikkim in the brccding beason, though in winter specimens have been collected in the Bhutan Duars.

'l'he generic name, according to Ticehurst, should bc Cyanosyluiu.]

Cyanosylvia davidi Oustalet. 4768, d, Gyala (9300 ft.), 9 J u l y ; 4773, juv., Gyala (9300 ft.), 10

July ; 4784, $, Gyala (9300 ft.), 11 July ; 4835-7, 8, juv., 8, Tripe (9500 ft.), 25 July.

The habitat of this Ruby-throat in summer differs greatly from that of C. p . tschebaieici The latter is a bird of the mountain-tops, haunting the dwarf juniper and rhododendron scrub above the tree line. C. davidi on the other hand lurks in the densest thickets of bamboo, rose and bar- berry in the valley bottoms. It is a tremendous skulker, and the only wity I could procurc specimens was to crawl " ventre B terre " through the dense undergrowth listening for its alarm note, which resembles that of Ianthia c. ru$lata.

[In the Om. Monasb. 1932, p. 174, Meise has pointed out that tho correct name for this species is Calliope pecfurdens of David and Oustalet, ' Ois dr Chine ', p. 266 : Moupin. This name was formerly quoted as a synonym of C. p . tschebaiewi. In addition to the above specimens, we have two skins from the Chumbi Valley, procured by a native collector employed in that valley by the Everest Expedition, and two males and one female from N.W. Yunnan, taken by Forrest in July. No. 4835, $, Tripe, also a Yunnan bird, was taken in the same month.

In no. 4835, 8, Tripe, July, and Lichiang Range, same month, the orange-crimson fcathers of the throat are much restrictcd. Apparently these are males of the previous year, since many of the throat-feathers are still in the sheath and others may be seen coming through on the breast.

188 Mr. F. Ludlow on tlw [Ibis,

The juvenile differs from C . pwtoralis in thP more uniform and darker colour of the upper parts and the absence of a white tip to the tail. Both specimens are males, judging by the tail. This species is very different to the last in both sexes, and it is doubtful whether they are oongeneric.]

Tarsiger ehryssus ehryssus Hodgson. 3907, $?, Wgyitun (13,000 ft.), 31 May ; 3991, $?, Lo La, ( I 1,500 ft).),

27 June ; 4065, 0, Lo La (11,500 ft.), 13 July ; 4235, S, Khomanagri (4000 ft.), 5 November ; 4346, $, Uiwangiri ( 2 0 ft.), 21 November ; 4379,0, Lung (9200 ft.), 19 October ; 4602,6, Lo La (11,500 ft.), 15 May ; 4754, 9, Nyima La (12,000 ft.), 5 July.

Moderately common during summer on thc ranges overlooking the Siyom and Subansiri Valleys, and also on the mountain ranges on either bank of the Tsangpo from Lilung downwards, where it occurs in silver fur forest and rhododendron undergrowth.

I n June 1937 Sherriff found this bird breeding plentifully on the Black Mountain in Central Bhutan. He writes, on 21 June : .‘ There arc a great many Tarsiger nesting here a t the top cnd of the rhododendron scrub zone. I have not taken eggs as they are all about to produce chicks. The females sit on the nests and allow me to approach within a foot of them, and only flutter off when I put out my hand to touch them.”

L3 8, wing 64.5-67 ; 2 9, wing 61-63 mm.] Ianthia eyanura rufilata Hodgson. 3838, 8, Kyimpu (12,500 ft.), 9 May ; 3840, $, Kyimpii (13,500 ft.),

10 May ; 4470, $, Molo (11,000 ft.), 17 April ; 4614, $, Molo (10,600 ft.), 21 May ; 4743, 9, Tumbatse (21,600 ft.), 2 July ; 4896, $, Temo La (15,000 ft.), 6 September ; 4925, 6, Lusha La (10,500 ft.), 17 September.

This is a common bird in forested country north of the main range in S.E. Tibet. It has a peculiar three-syllabled spring song which it utters in the early mornings and latr. evenings. Nos. 3838 and 4614 are undoubtedly males in female plumage.

[5 3, wing 7 9 ~ 8 4 ; 1 9, wing 80 mm.] Ianthia indiea (Vieillot). 3796, 9, Lung (11,000 ft.), 29 April ; 3805, ($, Lung (11,000 ft.), 29

April ; 3997, 3, Singo Samba (11,400 ft.), 30 June ; 4062, J, Lo LiL (10,000 ft.), 12 July ; 4482, $, Lo La (10,000 ft.), 24 April.

A common bird in Pachakshiri in thick bamboo growth. Not seen north of the main range.

Ianthia hyperythra Blyth. 3615, Ronglung (5000 ft.), 4 March ; 3908, J, Migyitun (12,500 ft.),

31 May; 4009, 9, Lo La (12,000 ft.), 3 Ju ly ; 4924, 5, Lusha La

1944.1 Birds of XouthwasterrL Tibet. 189

(10,500 ft.), 17 September ; 4932, $, ‘I’sda Dzong (9500 ft.), 25 Sep- ten1 ber.

At timcs this bird reminded me of a Redstart in its behaviour. It WW often seen in stream beds in forest, catchirig inhects on the wing. In Hummer it occurs high up iii the rhododcridron zoritt.

12 $, wing 78-79 ; 1 9, wing 73 mm.1

Turdus merula buddhee Meinertzhagen. 3745, $, Tre (14,200 ft.), 17 April ; 3‘334, 8, Hinibi La (13,500 ft.),

7 June ; 3937-8, 6 $, Bimbi La (13,500 ft.), 9 Junc ; 4073, 3, Langong (12,000 ft.), 17 J u l y , 4101, 8, C‘ha La (14,000 ft.), 30 Ju ly ; 4116, 8, Traken La (15,000 ft.), 9 August ; 4122-3, juv. $, Sokpo (16,000 ft.), 12 August ; 4732, y, Sang La (14,000 ft.), 29 June ; 4737, $, Sang La (14,000 ft.), 30 Junc ; 4885, juv., Nambu La (14,000 ft.), 31 August ; 4980, 9, Gyandro (12,500 ft.), 24 October.

Plentiful in spring and summer on most of the passes wt’ crossed in 1936 and 1938, but i t beems to prcfcr thc dricr passes north of the rain screen to those on the main range itself. On 15 May 1 heard the sctrig of this Blackbird at Chiisam in the Tsari Valley. , it is very similar to that of our British bird, b u t 1 thought it neither so powerful nor so pleasing. A bird obtained a t Tre on 17 April had greatly enlarged testee. This Blackbird constructs its nest in rhododendron bushel; or1 the

fringe of the alpine zone. 17 8, wing 149-161, bill 264-28 ; 3 9, wing 144-151, bill 26-27 mm. I Turdus alboeinctus Royle. 3855, 9, Yarttp (Tsari) (10,500 ft.), 21 May ; 4844, $, Deyang (iiear

8a~ig) (9500 ft.), 28 July ; 4960, juv., Kyimdong Dzong (11,000 ft.), ‘3 October.

This Blackbird occurs both north arid aouth of the main range, and is particularly common in the Tsangpo Valley. It has a wide altitudinal range during the breeding heahon, and I noted it a t 9000 ft . at C;ya,l:t and up to 14,000 ft. oil the Sang La, where it lived amidst the smw surroundings as Turdus wi. buddha..

16, wing 142 ; 9, whg 137 mm.]

Turdus boulboul (Latham). 4273-4, & 5, Churigku (6000 ft.), 10 Novcmhr ; 5031, 6, Chungkar

[3 8, wing 148-150 mm.]

Turdus atrogularis Jarocki. 3536, $, 1)iwmgiri (ZOO0 ft.), 1 9 February ; 3665-6, 9 0, Kinnry

It collects into large flocks in autumn.

It has a pleasing song.

(6500 ft.), 15 November.

(4500 ft.), 20 March.

190 Mr. F. Ludlow on the [Ibis,

Turdus rufloollis Pallas. 3642-3, $ $, Sakden (9500 ft.), 14 MiLreh ; 4452, \), Kyirndong Uzong

Both the above Thrushes pass through t3.E. Tibet on spring a i d

Oreocincla mollissima mollissima (Nlyth). 3570, 0, Chungkar (6000 ft.), 23 February ; 3683, v, Phongmi (6500 ft.),

9 March ; 3671, $, Charigpu (6500 f t . ) , 22 March ; 3677, $, Gyipu (7000 ft.), 24 March; 4951, 8, Lilung Chu (near Molo) (9800 ft.), 3 October.

(11,000 ft.), 8 April ; 4981, 9, Gyandro (12,500 ft.), 24 October.

autumn migration.

Oreocincla dixoni (Scebohm). Tsemachi, 3945-6, 3, chick, Bimbi La (13,700 ft.), 13 June ; 4128, 3,

Hur La (13,500 ft.), 17 August ; 4475, 9, Molo (11,000 ft.), 18 April ; 4750, 6, Nyima La (12,800 ft.), 4 July.

It is quite impossible to distinguish between the above two species in the field.

NO. 3945 had a nost in a juniper tree 10 feet from the ground. It was about the same size and shape as that of a Blackbird, and was a mass of moss lined with dry grass, built upon a foundation of twigs. The nest contained two chicks.

[ln addition to the nestling obtained at Tsemachi, we have now a number of juveniles in the British Museum, both of this and the pre- ceding species, which throw some light on thch breeding range of these two Thrushes :-

0. dixoni.-S. Tibet, Sur La, I7 July ; Nyinia La, 4 July ; Cho La, 28 July ; N. Bhutan, Tsamba, 4 July (Bailey) ; N.E. Burma, Adung Valley, 12 August (Cranbrook) ; N.W. Yunnan, Lichiang Range, August (Forrest).

0. m. rrwlli8simu.-H. Tibet, Margo, 5 August ; E. Bhutan, Me La, ci August ; Nepal, Langdang Bato, 29 August (Bailey).

All these specimens are in a similar state of plumage, moulting into the adult stage, and it is unlikely they have wandered far from where they were bred. In addition, there are three hkins of 0. m. ssLollissimu, which are slightly older, from E. Bhutan, Me La, 2-7 August, and Margo, S. Tibet, 29 August.

The upper parts of the juvenile 0. dixoni are more olive-brown, shaft- stroak8 and tips of wing-coverts yellow-buff. Below generally lighter, the dark lines on either side of the throat less pronounced than in 0. m. mollissima, the breast with fewer and narrower markings and the under tail-coverts yellowish with rusty edges, instead of white with dusky olive margins.

Sikkim, no date (Mandelli) ;

1944.1 Birds of South-eastern Tibet. 191

22 ad. 0. dixoni : wing 132, 134-143 ; tail 107-115.5 ; bill 24-28 mtln. 45 0. rn. mollissirnu : wing 130-1j!f, 151 ; tail 85-102, 109 ; hill

Montieola rufiventris (J ardine & Selby). 3508, 6, Diwangiri (2000 ft.), 17 February; 3552, \>, lliwangiri

(1200 ft.), 20 February; 3655, 8, Gamri Chu (6500 ft.), 17 March; 4106-7, $, juv., Nutranipa (10,500 ft.), 11 .Tidy ; 471iB-7, 3 $), Langpe (9600 ft.), 9 July.

1 have no notes of any vitlue about this bird, which appears to be hcarcc in S.E. Tibet,.

Monticola solitaria pundoo (Sykcs) was men on rock cliffs a few miles below Charme on 29 September, 1936.

Myiophoneus cceruleus temminekii (Vigors). 4566, $?, Lhalung (7000 ft.), 8 May ; 488'3, 3, 'Uorigkyuk Uzoiig

Occurs on both sides of the main range, but not, much in cvidciice

[l 0, wing 161 mm.] Laiscopus nipalensis "> Laiscopus tibetanus (Bianchi). 3731, 9, Trimo (10,700 ft.), 9 April; 3827, $, Lo La (16,000 f't.),

8 May; 3928, $, Bimbi La (12,000 ft.), 5 June ; 4121, $?, Sokpo La (16,000 ft.), 12 August.

The only difference between the above specinicris m d oxamplcs from Sikkim, allowing for wear, is that the dark chestnut on the flanks is rather paler and they have a few white feathers on the flanks as well.

Bailey (Journ. B. N. H. R. vol. xxii. p. 368) obtained a frbmale a t 15,600 feet on the Thema La, on thc irrawaddy-Sa1wec.n watershed (lat, 28" 30', long. 98' 05').

Of the above specimens, no. 4121 was caught on a liest (c/3) built in a cliff-face 3 ft7et from the ground. 7'hc nest was composed of dry twisted grabh 1inr.d with mosts and hair, and the eggs moa'iurc 23 x 16, 22.25 x 16, 21.25 x 15.75 mm.

25-28 mm.]

(9000 ft.), 3 Scptcmber.

anywhere. Neither of the above specimens approaches M . eugenei.

Prunella immaeulata ( Hodgsori). 3568-9, 9 0, Chuiigkar (6000 ft.), 23 February ; 3584, $, Chnigkar

(5000 ft.), 26 February ; 3626, 8, Takhto (7500 ft.), I 0 Malch ; 3691, $, Shakti (7200 ft.), 26 March ; 4136, 9, Sur La (14,000 ft.), 19 August ; 42113, 8, Chuiigkar (6000 ft.), I1 November ; 4655, 6, 'I'sclrt Dzong ('3800 ft.), 1 June , -&705-6, 6 o, Tatlnnyon La (10,600 ft.), 22 June ; 4721, 8, Sang La (10,500 ft.), 27 June ; 4740, juv., TumbtLtse (12,500 ft.), 1 July.

Thib bird is con~mon locally, both north :md south of the main range. In February a r d March 1936 we met with it in flocks feeding on the

192 Mr. F. Liidlow on thP [Ibis,

paths in dense forest in Eastern Bhutan and Monyul. In 1938 we found it in thick forest in the Tsangpo Valley, where it was breeding. The Maroon Accentor is not only a ground bird, but also a restless inhabitant of the summits of conifers, where it utters an oft-repeated arid mvnotonoub two-syllabled call. It is a strong flier.

Prunella rubeculoides rubeculoides (Horsfield & Moore). 3757, 3765, p 9, Chayul Dzong (11,500 ft.), 22 April. Seen everywhere on the Tibetan Plateau up to 16,000 feet. We were

rather surprised to find it as low as 11,500 feet a t Chayul Dzong, and Btill more astonished to meet with it a t 10,000 feet just above Natrampa. It occurs right down the Tsangpo Valley as far as Kyimdong Dzong. This bird, however, was only seen a t these comparatively low elevations in the spring of the year, and it is quite probable that it retires to higher elevations to breed.

Prunella fulvescens tibetanus (Bianchi). 3819, 8, Le La (14,000 ft.), 7 May; 4450, 0, Tromda (10,800 ft.),

3 April ; 4976, 6, Charme (10,600 ft.), 22 October ; 4984, 6, Lor0 TO (14,000 ft.), 27 October.

This Accentor has the same habitat and altitudinal range as P. r . rube- c uloides.

Prunella strophiata strophiata (Blyth). 3625, J, Takto (7500 ft.), 10 March ; 3640, 8, Sakden (9500 ft.),

13 March : 4466, 9, Molo (11,000 ft.), 15 April ; 4726, 9, Sang La (14,000 ft.), 28 June ; 4968, 9, Bimhi La (13,000 ft.), 14 October ; 4988, 8, Trimo (10,700 ft.), 31 October ; 5024, $, Chungkar (6500 ft.), 14 November.

Common on the passes north of the main range on the Lower Tsangpo during the breeding season.

[After examining a large series from Nepal, Szechuan and Yunnan, including a co-type of Arcrntor rnultistriatus David, I can set no constant difference between the Himalayan and eastern birds. The colour of thc breast- band varies, and possibly western examples may be slight13 more heavily streaked.

10 8, Sikkim-‘Tibet, wing 64-70, 72 ; 6 9, wing 62-67 mm.]

Hemichelidon sibirica rothschildi S. Baker. 3866-7,s $, Migyitun (9600 ft.), 23 May; 3886,J, Migyitun (9600 ft.),

28 May; 3989, 9, Lo La (12,000 ft.), 27 June; 4070, 9, Langong (12,000 ft.), 17 July ; 4676-7, $ $ $, Lusha La (11,500 ft.), 15 June . 4691, 9, Lusha (9500 ft.), 17 June ; 4829, 9, Gyala (9300 ft.), 24 July 4863, juv., Chomo Dzong (9800 ft.), 12 August.

Plentiful in summer in the forests of S.E. Tibet between 9000 aiid

1944 .] Birds of South-eastem Tibet. I93

12,000 feet. It normally selects a dead branch, or summit of .a dead tree, from which to make sallies into the air, returning always to the same perch. A tame little bird, far too intent on catching insects to pay any attention to man. It constantly utters a low mouse-like squeak. It arrives rather late on its breeding grounds-not before mid-May.

In 2912 Bailey obtained a bird a t Sangachu Dzong (lat. 29' 12', long. 97" l'), and in 1913 another on the Su ,La, which lies south of thf Showa in Pome (lat. 29" 50', long. 95" 25'). These also belong to thc dark race rothschildi.

[All the specimens are typical H . s. rothschildi with the exception of no. 3886, Migyitun, 28 May, which is paler and is very similar to the skins previously collected in Bhutan and identified a3 H . s. Jicliginosa.]

Hemiehelidon Perruginea Hodgson. 3869, $, Migyitun (9600 ft.), 23 May; 4106, juv., Lung (9000 ft.),

A silent bird of the forest which I have seldom encountered.

Siphia strophiata strophiata Hodgson. 3519, $2, Diwangiri (2000 ft.), 18 February; 3652, 6, Gamri Chi1

(ti500 ft.), 16 March ; 3987, 8, Lo La ( I 2,500 ft.), 27 June ; 3872, 8, Migyitun (10,000 ft.), 24 May ; 4032, juv., Nyug La (11,000 ft.), 7 July ; 4478, ?? Langong Chu (11,000 ft.), 21 April; 4704, 8, Tamnyen La (10,500 ft.), 22 June ; 4707, 8, Tamnyen La (10,500 ft.), 22 June ; 3722, 6, Sang La (10,500 ft.), 27 June.

A common bird in dense forest, both north and south of the main range. The orange gorget is practically non-existent in some specimens. No. 3652, for example, has only the faintest suggestion of an orange tip to one feather. I n no. 3872 the orange patch is also only faintly indicated.

10 July.

[5 8, wing 72-78 ; 2 0, wing 68-69 mm.]

Muscicapula hodgsbni (Verreaux). 3548, $, Diwangiri (1200 ft.), 20 February ; 3972, 6, Molo (12,000 ft.),

23 June; 4567, $, Lhalung (7000 ft.), 8 May; 4009-10, 6 b, Singo Samba (11,000 ft.), 17 May ; 4099, 8, Tamnyen La (10,500 ft.), 19 tJune ; 4709, $, Tamnyen La (11,500 ft.), 24 .June ; 4855, d, Tsela Dzong (9500 ft.), 3 August.

A common bird in summer in the pine forests of H.E. Tihet, where it, keeps to the tops of trees, uttering a constant ripple of whistling notes, Vcry difficult to see amongst the conifer needles, and equally difficult to shoot.

Bailey obtained a specimen at Layoting in Pome (one march below 'l'ongkyuk Dzong) on 8 July, 1913. This specimen was first identified as M . hyprrythm (Blyth) by Baker (wide Journ. B. N. H. 8. vol. xxiv.

Nos. 4567, 4699, 4709 are males in female dress.

194 Mr. 3’. Ludlow on fhr! [Ibis,

1). 75), but, subscyuriitly altervd to M . horlgror/,i (v ide . Nidificatioti of Birds of the lndian Empire ’, vol. ii. p. 184).

1.5 $ (blue), wing 69-73 ; 3 8 (brown), wing 68-73 mm.]

Muscicapula hyperythra hyperythra (Blyth). 5051, 3 , Diwangiri (2000 f t .), 20 November.

Muscicapula tricolor tricolor ( Hodgson) . 3810, $, Lung (10,500 ft.), 2 May; 3994, $, Lo La (12,000 ft.), 28

*June ; 4166, 9, Bimbi La (12,500 ft.), I0 September ; 4168, 9, Bimbi La (12,000 feet), 11 September; 4603, 8, Lo Ida (11,500 ft.), 15 May; 4649, 8, Twla Dzong (9800 ft.), 31 May ; 4718, 8, Sang La (10,500 ft.), 27 June ; 4751-2, 6 2, Nyima La (11,500 ft.), 5 July ; 4785, juv., Gyala (9300 ft.), 11 Julg ; 4827, ?, Gyala (9300 ft.), 23 July ; 4t131, juv., Gyala (9300 ft.), 24 Ju ly ; 4851, 0, Langong (13,000 ft.), 6 June; 4962, 9, Kyimdong Dzong ( 1 1,000 ft.), 11 Octohcr : 5OW2, 3, lliwangiri (2000 ft.), 23 November.

This is a very common bird indeed in S.E. Tibet. Nos. 4751-2 were hrtvding birds. The nest ( ~ 1 3 , . slightly incubated) was placed in a crcvice of a boulder, and was composed entirely of moss and lined with its sporogoniums. Eggs pale buff, average 15.5 x 12 mm.

(There is a good deal of variation in the colour of the underside in thc blue-backrd males as regards the amount of the rusty tinge. For instance, there is none on no. 4752, while in no. 4718 i t is strongly marked. 1 8 (brown), wing 59 ; 8 3, wing 58-61 : 3 9, wing 56-60 mm.]

Muscicapula melanoleuca melanoleuoa Blyth. 4291, 8, Diwangiri (2000 ft.), 14 November.

Muscicapula sapphira Blyth. 4327, Diwangiri (2000 ft.), 18 Novemner : 4365, $, T)iwangiri (2000 ft.),

Muscicapula vivida oatesi (Salvadori). 4558, 8, Lhalung (7000 ft.), 6 May ; 4588, 6, Lhalung (H000 EL),

!t May. [According to the ‘ Fauna ’ the Rufous-hellicd Blue Flycatcher is

found in the hills south of the Brahmaputra, Chin and Kachin hills, and south of Assam. It has not been rccorded from south-east l’ihrt previously.

23 November.

2 3, wing 97-1 01, bill 16, tail 82-86 mm. 5 $, Moolegit, Tenasserim, wing !)4-102, hill 15.5-1 6, tail 74-83 mm. On the average the southern birds appear to have shorter tails, hilt,

without more specimens this cannot be taken as a subspecific character .]

1944.1 Rirds of South-castem Tibd. 195

Eumyias thalassina thalassina (Swainson). 1290, $2, Diwangiri (Zoooft.), 14 Novcmber ; 4503,8, Lhalung (7000 ft.),

28 April; 4526, 0, Lhalung (7000 ft.), 3 May. Fairly common in Pachakshiri.

Anthipes moniliger moniliger (Hodgson) . 3586-7, 8 8, Khomarmgri (4000 ft.), 27 February ; 4366, 9, Diwangiri

A skulker in dense tropical forests, but also noticed in more open oak

Culicioapa ceylonensis (Swnineon) > Culicieapa pallidior Ticehurst. 3820, &, Rungzyung (3500 ft.), 7 Maech ; 4355, 8, Diwangiri (2000 ft.),

22 November ; 4501, $, Lhalung (7000 ft.), 28 April ; 4534, 9, Lhalung (7000 ft.), 4 May.

(2000 ft.), 23 November.

forest with thick shrubby undergrowth.

Common in Pachakshiri.

Niltava grandis grandis Blyth. 3580, 8, Chungkar (6000 ft.), 24 February. In deep dark rain forest. Dccidrdly srarcc.

Niltava sundara sundara Hodgson. 4324, 9, Diwangiri (2000 ft.), 18 Novembcr ; 4496, 8, Lhalung

(7500 ft.), 27 April ; 4523, 9, Lhalung (7000 ft.), 1 May ; 4529, $, Lhalung (7000 ft.), 3 May.

Quite common in thick bamboo and deciduous junglc a t Lhalung. Ihiley (Sown. R. N. H. S. vol. xxiv. p. 7 5 ) obtained a nest (c/3) at 1,ayoting in Pome, one march below Tongkkyuk Dzong.

Not observed north of tho main range.

Niltava macgrigoris (Burton). T w o males and one female from Diwsngiri in November. Hypothymis azure8 styani (Hartlauh). 4307, 8, Diwangri (2000 ft.), I6 November. In thin forest,. Chelidorhynx hypoxantha (Blyth). 3981, o, Molo (11,200 ft.), 23 .June; 4574, 9, Nyug La (8000 ft.),

Common, both north and south of the main range, from 7000 feet up Bailey obtained tlhis Flycatcher on the Sii La near

Common

11 May ; 47!)5, 8, Doshong La (12,500 ft.), 16 July.

to the timber line. Shown in Pome. and also a t Mirhi in the Upper Lohit Valley. in Northern Burma and Yunnan.

Rhipidura albicollis albieollis (Vieillot) . 4393, 9, Diwangiri (1000 ft.), 27 November ; 4516, 8, Lhnlung (7000ft1.),

Noderately common a t Lhalung. 30 April.

198 Mr. F. Ludlow on the [Ibis,

Lanius nasutus tricolor (Hodgson). 3705, $, Pangchen (7000 ft.), 31 March. Lanius schach nipalensis Hodgson. 3814, 9, Chayul Dzong (11,000 ft.), 5 May ; 4518, 9, Lhalung (7000 ft.),

30 April ; 4531, 6, Lhaluiig (7000 ft.), 3 May ; 4646, 9, Tsela Dzong (9800 ft.), 30 May.

This Shrike is very widespread, and is found both north and south of the main range- down to 7000 feet in the wet zone in Pachakshiri, and up to 14,000 feet in the dry zone on the plateau. I t shnnr drnse forest, but is to he found in forest clearings.

Occurs all down the Tsangpo to Gyala in the gorge.

Hemipus pieatus capitalis (McClelland) . 3490, 6, Diwangiri (2000 ft.), 18 February ; 3659-60, $ 9, Trashigong

(3000 ft.), 19 March ; 4292, 4302, $ $?, Diwangiri (2000 ft.), 16 November. Tephrodornis pelviea pelviea (Hodgson) . One male and one female, both from Diwangiri. Pericrocotus brevirostris (Vigors). 4499, 6, Lhalung (7000 ft .) , 24 April. [Mr. LuAlow noticed that this bird was much darkrr than the othcr

Minivets he collected, but when he wrote his notes he had not seen Mayr's paper in ' The Ibis ', 1940, p. 712. Apparently t w o species of Minivet have been confused undcr one name, arid Mayr hiL8 had to alter the names in some rases and also describe new forms. A s far as 1 have been able to go into the matter, his arrangement appears to be correct, hiit all the British Museum series are not available at present.

Wing 87, tail YO mm.] Perierocotus laetus Mayr > Perierocotus ethologus Bangs. 3811, $, Natrarnpa (10,000 ft.), 2 May ; 4205, $, Kyimpu (12,500 ft.),

ti October ; 4457, 6, Molo (11,00Oft.), 14April; 4467, 6, Molo (11,00Oft.), 16 April; 4493, 9, Nyng La (9500 ft.), 28 April; 4547, 8, Lhalurig (7000 ft.), 5 May ; 4779, &, Gyala (9300 ft.), 10 July.

On the whole, birds from north of the main range are paler than those from the south, but there are exceptions. No. 4499 is a very dark crimson bird, and can only be matched hy no. IN73 from Uangtok (n idr Ibis, 1937, p. 283).

[These pale specimens are not typical P. e . lzfus, and accordingly T a m listing them as intermediates between that, race and the Chinese P. f> ,

uthologus. No. 4547 is a male in femdo phrmage with weil-developed testes. ' h e yellow on the forehead is similar to a female P. breoirostris, with the tail typical of P. ethologus. The bird is very worn, but has tlir general appearance of P. ethologus.

4 3, wing 91-94, tail 99-104 ; 1 9, wing 91, tail 99 mm.]

1944.1 Birds of South-eastern Tibet. 197

Pericrocotus solaris solaris Blyth. 4308, b, Diwangiri (2000 ft.), 16 November.

Artamus fuscus Vieillot. 3559, 6, Diwangiri (ZOO0 ft.), 21 February. I h a w never seen this bird a t Diwangiri, except in early spring.

Dicrurus leucophaeus longicaudatus Jerdon. 4564, $2, Lhalung (7000 ft.), 7 May.

Chaptia anea anea (Vieillot). 3551, 3, Diwangiri (1200 ft.), 20 February; 4247, $, Khomanagr

Bhringa remifer tectirostris Hodgson. Two males from Diwangiri in November. Dissemurus paradiseus

Tribura thoracica thoracica (Blyth). 3897, 8, Migyitun (13,000 ft.), , 30 May;

(4000 ft.), 4 November ; 4317, 0, Diwangiri (2000 ft.), 17 November.

grandis (Gould) was also seen a t Diwangiri, but I took no specimens.

3903-4, $ 8, Migyitun (12,500 ft.), 30 May ; 3985-6, $ 6, Lo La (11,500 ft.), 26 June ; 4665, 3, Lusha La (11,000 ft.), 8 June ; 4730, 6, Sang La (14,000 ft.), 29 June ; 4897-8, juv., 0, Temo La (13,500 ft.), 7 September ; 4920, 9, Lusha (9500 ft.), 16 September.

A common bird in S.E. Tibet both north and south of the main range. It inhabits dwarf willow and rhododendron scrub in the alpine zone, and also grassy glades in the forest a t lower altitudes.

(6 8, wing 54-58 mm.]

Tribura luteoventris Hodgson. 4527, 6, Lhalung (7000 ft.), 3 May. This bird was not uncommon on the bracken-covered grassy hillsidea

We saw it nowhere else.

Orthotomus sutorius patia (Hodgson). Two specimens from Diwangiri. Common in East Bhutan at low elevations.

Franklinia rufescens rufescens (Blyth). 5010, 9, Jiri Chu (3500 ft.), 11 November. Common in long grass in East Bhutan at low elevatiom.

Phylloscopus afanis (Tickell). 3756, $, Chayul Dzong (1 1,500 ft.), 22 April ; 3969, d, Molo (11,500 ft.),

23 June ; 4162, 3, Bimbi La (13,000 ft.), 8 September ; 4215, 9, Gyandro (12,500 ft.), 10 October ; 4335, $, Diwangiri (2000 ft.), 20 November ; 4634, $, Lilung (9800 ft.), 26 May ; 4765, 6, Langpe (9600 ft.), 9 July ; 4843, 9, Deyang (9600ft.), 28 July ; 4961,$.,Kyimdong Dzong (ll,OOOft.),

at Lhalung.

VOL. 86. P

198 Mr. F. Ludlow on the [Ibis,

11 October ; 4974, 8, Charme (10,600 ft.), 21 October ; 4983, 0, Chayul Dzong (11,500 ft.), 25 October ; 4989, 3, Trimo (10,700 ft.), 31 October,

This Willow-Warbler occurs all down the Tsangpo as far as Gyala in the gorge, carefully avoiding forest, and keeping to low scrub growing on the sandy banks of the river.

Phylloscopus fuscatus fuscatus (Blyth). 4180, $, Cha La (14,00Oft.), 20 September ; 4189,3, Charme (10,60oft.),

29 September ; 4918, 6, Temo Gompa (9500 ft.), 15 September ; 4937-8, o 0, Kangka (9500 ft.), 28 September; 4948, 0, Miling (9600 ft.), 30 September.

On 18 September, 1936, this Willow-Warbler was very common a t Chosam in the Upper Tsari Valley, where it kept to dwarf juniper and rhododendron scrub. Tsari being holy ground, we were unable to shoot specimens, but two days later, after we had crossed the Cha La, we found it equally common in dwarf Salix and Caragana scrub above Sanga Choling.

In 1938 we saw this bird for the first time on 15 September in a willow plantation at Temo Gompa.

During the next fortnight we saw, and heard, large numbers in willow and holly oak bushes as we marched up the Tsangpo to Lilung. The alarm note is a single " tik " , uttered every second. All birds were very fat.

Phylloscopus fuscatus weigoIdi Strcsemann. 4150, 0, Na La (near Migyitun) (12,800 ft.), 1 September ; 4206,6,

Kyimpu (12,500 ft.), 6 October ; 4977, 6, Kyimpu (12,500 ft.), 22 October ; 4973, 0 , Sanga Choling (12,000 ft.), 18 October.

Bailey obtained a specimen of this bird at Poda, near Sangachu Ihong (lnt. 29" 18', long. 97" 05'), on or about 26 June, 1912, which suggests that this bird may breed in S.E. Tibet. But I have no proof that i t does so, and the only birds I have obtained have been in the autumn.

Phylloscopus tibetanus Ticehurst, B. 0. C. vol. lvii. p. 109. 3932, 3, Bimbi La (14,000 ft.), 7 June ; 3939, $, Bimbi La (13,500 ft ),

9 June ; 3940, 9, Bimbi La (13,500 ft.), 9 June ; 4728-9, 9 ?, Sang La. (14,000 ft.), 28 June ; 4848, 0, Langong Chu (14,000 ft.), 30 May ; 484940, o 0, Langong Chu (14,500 ft.), 5 .June ; 4884, 0 , Natnbu L ~ L (13,000 ft.), 30 August ; 4902-4, 3 6 0, Mira La (14,500 ft.), 15 August.

We discovered this new Phylloscops in 1936 on the Bimbi La, in the Tsari district of S.E. Tibet. I n 1938, however, we found it in several other localities east of the Rimbi La, viz., on the northern slopes of the passes on the main range draining

That year we saw it nowhere else.

1944.1 Birds of 8mth-eastern Tibet. 199

into the Langong Chu, south of Molo ; on the Mira La in the Gyamda Chu Valley, three days' march north-west of Tsela Dzong; on the Sang La, east of Tsela Dzong ; and on the Nambu La, four days' march west of Tongkyuik Dzong. We obtained specimens in all these localities. I have Sight records from elsewhere, but such records are of no value when dealing with this ,difficult genus, and I do not propose to quote them.

As far as our experience goes, P. tibetanus in summer is found only in the alpine zone above the conifer belt. We never saw it in forested areas, and we invariably found i t in boulder-scree, amongst dwarf juniper, rhododendron, Salix, and Potentilla scrub. That it breeds amidst such surroundings I have no doubt, but when we were in the alpine zone we were all far too occupied with botanical work to search for nests.

In 1936 I find from my field note-book that I compared the alarm- note of this Phyllocopus with that of a Pnoepyga. But in 1938 I see 1 altered my opinion, and likened it to that of Troglodytes, and I think, perhaps, this latter comparison is the more accurate of the two.

Seen in the distance scrambling over boulders, and threading its way through dwarf juniper scrub, this dark little bird is very much like a Wren at the first glance. We heard no song.

We searched for it a t this season of the year on the Bimbi La and on the passes sout,h of t,hc Langong Chu, but hy mid-October i t had forsaken its summer haunts.

In d l probability it moves vertically with the seasons, and winters in forested areas a t no great distance from its breeding grounds. I t seems likely that Tsari is very near the western limit of its distribution. How far eastwards i t extends still remains to be discovered. There is ti vast tract of country between the bend of the Tsangpo and the valley of t h e Mekong which is a terra incognita to ornithologists, and p. tibetunus may well be found in this area. East of the Mekong i t is not likely to occur, as this area has been fairly well worked.

" Descript.ion.--Upper parts as dark, and of tho same colour, as in p. ,fuful.igivente,r, much darker than in P. ioeigoldi. Underparts different shades of dark grey ; in the centre of the throat, breast and belly a slight paling to greyish white. In P. fuligiventer the underparts are olive-brown, with distinctly a dull yellow wash down the centre of the body ; in P. weigoldi much more whitish. Underwing and axilliaries much as in P. fuligiventer, hut no yellowish tinge. No pale isabellins edges to underside of secondaries.

We did not see this Phylloscopus in the autumn.

Short supercilium greyish white. P 2

200 Mr. F. Ludlow on the [Ibis,

Measurements.-Wing, d 59, 9 57 ; tail, .J 50, 9 46 ; bill, d 13.5, 9 13 mm.

Xoft parts.-Iris brown ; bill nearly black, yellowish a t gape ; tarsi and toes very dark brown.

Remarks.-This new Phylloscopus is not a hitherto overlooked form ; there is nothing like i t in the British Museum collection. It is very distinct from P. weigoldi, but is possibly a race of P. fuligiventer ; but until we know something about the breeding range of that bird, I keep the new form as a species ”.

Second primary equal to ninth or tenth.

Phylloscopus maculipennis maculipennis (Blyth) . 4237, 9, Yonpu La (SO00 ft.), 2 November ; 4243, 9, Khomanagri

In flocks on the tops of trees in dense forest in November.

Phylloscopus pulcher pulcher Blyth. 3852, 0, Yarap, Tsari (\2,000 ft.), 19 May; 4667-8, 6 9, Lusha La

Phylloscopus proregulus chloronotus (Gray). 3779, 6, Tron (10,500 ft.), 25 April ; 3829, 6, Kyimpu (13,000 ft.),

9 May ; 3839, Q, Kyimpu (13,500 ft.), 10 May ; 3923, 0, Bimbi La (12,000 ft.), 4 June ; 3927, 0, Bimbi La (12,000 ft.), 5 June ; 4280, 0,

Chungkar (6000 ft.), 10 November ; 4344, 9, Diwangiri (2000 ft.), 21 November ; 4459, 8, Molo (1 1,000 ft.), 14 April ; 4594, 0, Lo La (11,500 ft.), 14 May; 4703, 6, Tamnyen La (10,500 ft.), 21 June; 4868, 0, Dzeng, Gyamda Chu (9800 ft.), 13 August ; 5025, 9, Chungkar (6500 ft.), 14 November.

Perhaps the commonest Phylloscopus in the fir forest north of the main range.

Phylloscopus inornatus mandelli (Brooks). 4188, 6, Charme (10,600 ft.), 28 September ; 4663, 6, Tsela Dzong

Phylloscopus inornatus inornatus Blyth. 4663, 6, Tsela Dzong, 5 June; 4919, 0, Temo Gompa (9500 ft.),

Phylloscopus magnirostris Blyth. 3837, 6, Kyimpu (12,500 ft.), 9 May. Common both north and south of the range in forested areas.

(4000 ft.), 4 November.

(12,000 ft.), 8 June.

(9500 ft.), 5 June.

15 September.

Its We made 110 distinctive song and call-notes were heard everywhere.

attempt to collect specimens.

Phylloscopus trochiloides trochiloides (Sundevall). 3860, 6, Charme (10,500 ft.), 11 May ; 4169, d, Bimbi La (12,000 ft.),

12 September ; 4186, (s, Charme (10,300 ft.), 28 September ; 4593, 8,

1944.1 Birds of South-eastern Tibet. 201

Lo La (11,500 ft.), 14 May ; 4654, $2, Tsela Dzong (9800 ft.), 1 June ; 4664, 3, Lusha La (12,000 ft.), 8 June ; 4673, $2, Lusha La (11,000 ft.), 11 June ; 4734, 9, Sang La (14,000 ft.), 29 June ; 4935, $, Tsela Dzong (9500 ft.), 27 September.

Another very common bird, both north and south of the main range, especially in mixed deciduous and conifer forest.

Phylloscopus reguloides reguloides (Blyth) . 3786, $, Natrampa (10,000 ft.), 27 April; 3787, 9, Natrampa

(10,000 ft.), 27 April ; 3984, 2, Molo (11,200 ft.), 24 June ; 4395, 0,

Diwangiri (1000 ft.), 27 November ; 4487, $, Nyug La (9500 ft.), 26 April ; 4528, 3, Lhalung (7000 ft.), 3 May ; 4554, 3, Lhalung (7000 ft.), 6 May; 4774, juv., Gyala (9300 ft.), 10 Ju ly ; 4820-1, o 0, Gyala (9300 ft.), 22 July ; 5048, 3, Diwangiri (1500 ft.), 20 November.

Common north and south of the main range. No. 3984 was caught on its nest (c/3), which was composed entirely of green moss placed in a hole in the ground in thick forest. The nest, which was cup-shaped, was placed 24 inches from the entrance of the hole. The eggs, which were slightly incubated, were pure white and measured 17 x 12.25, 17 x 12-50,16 X 12 mm.

Seicercus aianis (Horsfield & Moore). 4263, $, Chungkar (6000 ft.), 8 November. Inhabits dense semi-tropical evergreen jungle. Seicercus burkii burkii (Burton). 3791, 8, Lung (9500 ft.), 28 April; 3995, 6 , Lo La (11,200 ft.), 28

June; 4048, 8, Nyug La (10,500 ft.), 9 Ju ly ; 4224, 0, Gamri Chu (6000 ft.), 27 October; 4277, 0, Chungkar (6000 ft.), 10 November; 4553, 9, Lhalung (7000 ft.), 6 May ; 4800, $, Doshong La (11,000 ft.), 17 July ; 4822-3, juv., $, Gyala (9300 ft.), 22 July.

In addition to being plentiful south of the main range, this species is also quite common on the northern slopes between 10,000 and 12,000 feet.

NO. 4553 was shot off a nest containing four fresh eggs.

[5 $, wing 58-61 ; 1 9, wing 55 mm,] Seicercus xanthoschistos xanthoschistos (Gray). 3674, 6, Gyipu (6500 ft.), 23 March ;

Common in open oak forest at Gyipu. Seicercus castaneiceps (Blyth). 3713, 9, Le (7600 ft.), 4 April; 4239-40, $ 9, Jiri Chu (3000 ft.),

3 November ; 4326, 3, Diwangiri (2000 ft.), 18 November ; 4541, 0, Lhalung (7000 ft.), 5 May.

A bird of the tree-tops. [2 6, Wing 51-52 ; 3 9, wing 48-49 mm.]

3676, 0, Gyipu (7000 ft.), 24 March ; 5008, 9, Trashigong (4000 ft.), 9 November.

202 Mr. E. Ludlow on the [Ibis,

Seicercus poliogengs (Blyth). 4272, 6, Chungkar (6000 ft.), 9 November. [Wing 53 mm.] Abroscopus sehisticeps flavimentalis S. Baker. 3575-8, d 8 6 9, Chungkar (6000 ft.), 24 February ; 4278, 3, Chungkar

(6000 ft.), 10 November. I n large flocks a t Chungkar. Noted at Shakti (7000 ft.) in the Nyam

Jang Chu Valley. [In the typical bird from Nepal the canary-yellow of the throat

extends on to the breast and flanks, but in a A . s. Jtauimentalis from Mt. Victoria this yellow is much reduced and confined to the throat and upper breast, giving the bird a whiter appearance below.

4 8, wing 47-49 ; 1 9, wing 47 mm.] Neornis flavolivaceus flavolivaceus Blyth. 4257, 9, Khomanagri (4000 ft.), 5 November ; 4579, 3, Nyug La

(11,500 ft.), 12 May ; 4992, o, Le (9000 ft.), 1 November. Not seen north of the main range in S.E. Tibet. Probably commoner

in Pachakshiri than the solitary specimen above would seem to indicate. Homochlamys acanthizoides brunneseens (Hume). 3797, 9, Lung (11,000 ft.), 29 April ; 3983, 8, Molo (1 1,200 ft.),

24 June ; 4622, 6, Molo, 23 May ; 4716-17, 66, Sang La (10,500 ft.), 27 June; 4777, 8, Gyala (9300 ft.), 10 July; 4789-90, 3 $?, Tripe (9500 ft.), 12 July ; 4797, $?, Doshong La (12,500 ft.), 16 July ; 4825, d. Gyala (9300 ft.), 23 July ; 4840, 6, Tripe (9500 ft.), 26 July ; 4901, 8, Temo La (11,500 ft.), 7 September; 4949, juv., Lilung (9800 ft.), 1 October.

Common in the Tsangpo Valley between Lilung and the gorge, where it is a skulker in the densest thickets.

During the breeding season it has a most amazing song, which I mu& try and describe, though to my mind most attempts to syllabify a bird’s song on paper are quite valueless, and convey nothing to a person who has never heard the song, and very often nothing to a person who has. However, the attempt must be made.

In my youth I was taught the Tonic Sol-fa system of notation-- doh-ray-me, etc. So, apparently, was H . a. brunnescens, for its breeding ~orig is a most perfect rendering of the four odd notes in the series, in ascendirig scale. Each of these four notes is very soft and very pro- longed, lasting for a t least two seconds, and then the song ends up with two or three other quick notes which I cannot possibly describe.

The alarm note is a quick ‘‘ birrh ”. [These specimens are duller than Sikkim and Bhutan skins. No. 4797

is not very different from one obtained at Sakden in October 1934.

1944.1 Birds of Xouth-easbrn Tibet. 203

The juvenile is uniform brown with less of a rusty tinge, especially on the back and edges of the primaries. Examples from Kuatun have the abdomen and flanks washed with buff, but in freshly moulted skins there is little difference on the upper parts.

8 $, wing 52-56, bill from base 12-13 ; 3 9, wing 48-50, bill from base 12-12-5 mm. ; 8 $, Kuatan, wing 52-53, bill from base 12 ; 3 0, Kuatun, wing 47-49, bill from base 11.5 mm.]

Homochlamys fortipes fortipes (Hodgson). 3511, 0, Diwangiri (2000 ft.), 17 February; 3657, d, Gamri Chu

(3500 ft.), 18 March ; 4354, 6, Diwangiri (2000 ft.), 22 October ; 5000, 0, Pangchen (6500 ft.), 3 November ; 5050, 0, Diwangiri (2000 ft.), 20 November.

I heard this bird at Lhalung, but was unable to obtain a specimen. In addition to its characteristic prolonged high-pitched whistle, it has a grating alarm note, oft-repeated.

Homochlamys major (Horsfield & Moore). 3896, $, Migyitun (13,000 ft.), 30 May ; 3943, 0, Bimbi La (13,000 ft.),

10 June ; 4967, 0, Bimbi La (13,000 ft.), 14 October. In the ‘Fauna’ the distribution given is Nepal and Sikkim only.

It occurs, however, in Bhutan, S.E. Tibet, Yunnan and Szechuan. Not recorded as yet from Burma, but it probably occurs in the extreme north.

A skulker in rhododendron jungle at, or just above, tree-level. Baker, ‘The Nidification of the Birds of the Indian Empire ’, vol. ii. p. 463, records a nest from ‘’ over 16,000 feet ” in Sikkim, “ at the edge of dense forest ”. There must be something wrong with this altitude. There is no “ dense forest ” in Sikkim at anything like 16,000 feet.

[This and the next species are very similar in colour, but the brown of the upper parts is more olive. The juvenilr is much darker above, and below is yellowish white, tinged with greenish on the breast.

A yolk-egg was found in no. 3943.

1 $, wing 63 ; 2 0, wing 59-61 mm.] Horeites brunnifrans brunnifrons (Hodgson). 3693, $, Shakti (7200 ft.), 26 March ; 3859, C, Migyitun (10,000 ft.),

22 May ; 3874, $, Migyitun (10,500 ft.), 24 May ; 3906, 9, Migyitun (12,500 ft.), 31 May ; 4149, 0, Na La (13,500 ft.), 1 September ; 4251, 8, Khomanagri (4000 ft.), 5 November ; 4581, 0, Nyug La (9500 ft.), 12 May ; 4622, 6, Molo (10,600 ft.), 23 May ; 4997, $, Pangchen (7500 ft.), 2 November.

Common both north and south of the main range up to 13,000 feet. [The juvenile is olive-brown above and yellowish olive below. 5 6, wing 47-49 ; 2 Q, wing 44-45 mm.]

204 Mr. E'. Ludlow OTL the [Ibis,

Suya criniger criniger Hodgson. 5006, Q, Shakti (7000 ft.), 4 November.

Suya atrogularis atrogularis Horsfield & Moore. 3694, 3, Shakti (7300 ft.), 26 March.

Regulus regulus sikkimensis Meinertzhagen. 3630-1, $ 2, Sakden (9500 ft.), 11 March ; 3751, 9, Tro Shika

(13,000 ft.), 20 April ; 4157, $, Bimbi La (12,500 ft.), 6 September ; 4207, d, Kyimpu (12,500 ft.), 6 October ; 5026-8, 8 9 9, Chungkar (6500 ft.), 14 November.

The Sakden birds were shot in oak forest, the Bimbi La bird in fir forest, the Kyimpu bird in birch forest, and the Chungkar birds in a Pinus nepalensis plantation, whilst the Tro Shika bird was in buck- thorn jungle on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau ; so the Himalayan Gold Crest is not very particular as to its habitat.

We did not obtain the Gold Crest in Bhutan in 1933 and 1934.

[4 $, wing 55-58 ; 4 ?, wing 51-53 mm.]

Lophobasileus elegans meissneri Schafer . 4125, juv., Sur La (13,500 ft.), 16 August; 4133, juv. 9, Sur La

(14,000 ft.), 19 August ; 4791, juv., Doshong La (11,500 ft.), 13 July. Unfortunately all the above specimens are juveniles, so it is quite

impossible to say to what race they belong. Curiously enough, we saw no adult birds.

All the above specimens were shot in Abies forest, where they kept well up the trees, and associated with Tits and Phylloscopi. In 1938 I was constantly on the look-out for this bird, but only saw it on the Doshong La, so it must be rather scarce in S.E. Tibet. It is rather surprising, however, that it should be found in the Lower Tsangpo a t all. There is very little on record about this species. It occurs in Kansu and N.W. Szechuan, but not in Yunnan. Schiifer records i t from the coniferous forests near Litang in East Tibet (lat. 30", long. 100" 19').

[No. 4791 has the head grey, back greyish black, wings blackish brown edged with greenish blue and below dusky white. The other two specimens are older, no. 4133 assuming the adult female plumage and no. 4125 that of the adult male. The top of the head and forehead are a darker grey in both, and represent, I presume, Schiifer's race L. o.

meiesneri. Two skins taken by Styan's collectors a t Tungpie, south-west of

Sungpan, in October, and sexed male, are obviously female, and not young male as Styan suggested; they also probably belong to this race. J

1944.3 Birds of South-eastern Tibet. 206

Leptopcecile sophiae obseura Prjevalsky. 3818, 9, Le La (13,500 ft.), 7 May ; 3841-3, $2 3 $2, Kyimpu (14,000 ft.),

10 May ; 4077, juv. 6, Pa La (14,000 ft.), 18 July ; 4079-82, 6 6 8 9, Pa La (14,000 ft.), 20 Ju ly ; 4100, 6, Sur La (15,000 ft.), 28 Ju ly ; 4126, $, Sur La (13,500 ft.), 16 August; 4914-16, 8 $2 $2, Sang La (14,000 ft.), 13 September.

A common bird in summer on the passes north of the main range, where it inhabits dwarf juniper, Lonicera and Berberis thickets above the tree-line.

[7 3, wing 51-52.5 ; 6 $2, wing 49-51.] Cephalopyrus flammieeps saturatus Whistler. 3668, $, Changpu (6500 ft.), 21 March. Met with in March in the Lower Nyam Jang Chu Valley in 1936, but

not tieen in other years, so the species cannot be plentiful. In Yunnan Forrest obtained a male in the Tengyueh district which

R,othschild described as C . f. olivaceus. 13, wing 58 mm. C. f. olivaceus wati described from a single male,

but does not seem to be a good race.] Irena puella sikkimensis Whistler. 4390, 3, Diwangiri (1000 ft.), 27 November. One out of a flock feeding on the tops of the highest trees in dense

Oriolus traillii traillii (Vigors). 5044, $, Diwangiri (1500 ft.), 20 November. Quite common in dense tropical forest. Uroloneha punetulata punctulata (Linnsus). 3621, 0, Rungzyung (4000 ft.), 7 March. Perissospiza amnis (Blyth). 3590-1, 9 i), Yonpu La (8500 ft.), 28 February ; 3645-6, 8 6, Sakden

(9500 ft.), 14 March ; 3915, $, Migyitun (9500 ft.), 1 June ; 4067, 8, Lo La (13,000 ft.), 14 July ; 4607, $2, Bingo Samba (11,500 ft.), 16 May ; 4723, 6, Sang La (12,000 ft.), 28 June.

Quite common in conifer forest, both north and south of the main range in the areas we visited in 1936 and 1938. In June 1936 I watched two males on the Bimbi La tearing a snail to pieces, so these birds are not entirely vegetarian in their diet. I n large flocks in February 1936 on the Yonpu La.

tropical forest.

Perissospiza earnipes carnipes (Hodgson). 3592, b, Yonpu La (SO00 ft.), 28 February; 3776-7, 8 9, Kap

(13,500 ft.), 24 April ; 3948, 9, Bimbi La (13,700 ft.), 13 June ; 4069, 3,

206 Mr. F. Ludlow on the [Ibis,

Langong (12,000 ft.), 16 Ju ly ; 4738-9, $2 9, Tumbatse (11,600 ft.), 1 July ; 4877, $, Pasum La (12,500 ft.), 22 August.

Quite common in summer in the juniper zone. Mycerobas melanoxanthus (Hodgson) : 4892, 8, Tongkyuik (8500 ft.), 4 September. In November 1936 we found these Grosbeaks a t Diwangiri feeding on

the tops of the very trees on which we had seen them in November 1934 (Ibis, 1937, p. 468). The noise they made cracking the nuts in their powerful bills could be heard at a considerable distance.

In 1838 the only locality in which we saw these birds was at Tongkyuik in Pome in early September. They were in thin Pinus forest, and appeared, from their mellow notes, to be quite numerous.

Pyrrhula erythrocephala Vigors. 3601, $, Yonpu La (8000 ft.), 29 February. I n 1936 and 1938 we saw this Bullfinch nowhere except on the extreme

eastern frontier of Bhutan,and it seems probable that P . erythrocephak is just as rare east of the 92nd meridian as P . erythaca is to the west of it.

Pyrrhula erythaca erythaoa Blyth. 3605-7, 9 0 $, Yonpu La (7000 ft.), 2 March ; 3781-2, 6 6, Natrampa

(10,000 ft.), 26 April ; 3808, $, Natrampa (11,000 ft.), 1 May ; 3853-4, $ 0, Yarap (l0,500 ft.), 21 May ; 3864, 9, Migyitun (9600 ft.), 23 May ; 3877-8, 6 9, Migyitun (9000 ft.), 26 May ; 3889-92, 6 6 $2 $2, Migyitun (8500 ft.), 28 May ; 3926, 9, Bimbi La (12,000 ft.), 5 June ; 3929, 6, Bimbi La (12,000 ft.), 5 June; 3975-7, 6 9 9, Molo (11,200 ft.), 23 June ; 4164, 9, Bimbi La (12,000 ft.), 9 September ; 4209, juv. 6, Kyimpu (13,500 ft.), 7 October ; 4763, 9, Tripe (9600 ft.), 8 July ; 4808, 6, Pe (9600 ft.), 18 July ; 4817, 6, Gyala (9300 ft.), 22 July ; 4895,$, Chunyirna (10,000 ft.), 5 September.

Before the above specimens were obtained it was represented in the National Collection by seven specimens, all of which were males. During our journeys in Bhutan in 1933 and 1934 Sherriff and I saw hundreds of Bullfinches, all of which were either P. erythroceyhala or P . nipalensis. It was not until 1936 that we encountered P. erythaca. On 2 March we obtained two females and a male on the Yonpu La near Trashigong, and these are the only birds we have ever seen in Bhutan.

A few weeks later we left behind us the basin of the Kltnas nnd entered that of the Subansiri. Between long. 92" 30' and 94" we saw large numbers of Bullfinches north of the main range. All were P. erythaca. The real home of P. erythaca therefore lies east of Bhutan, and it is a rare bird in Bhutan and Sikkim simply because these two countrim are on the westernmost fringe of its distribution. Stevens

Beavan's Bullfinch is generally considered to be a rare bird.

1944.1 Birds of South-ea&m Tibet. 207

worked Bikkim for many years without encountering this species, and came t o the conclusion (Journ. B. N. H. S. vol. xxx. p. 367) that it was confined to extreme high altitudes” ; but this is not so. We did not see P, eryffiaca above 12,500 feet in summer, and found it plentiful a t Migyitun below 9000 feet.

Meinertzhagen (‘Ibis, 1927, p. 381) thought P. erythaca might prove more seclusive in its habits and less of a ground feeder than P . erythrocephalG, but this also is not correct. Neither in its habits nor its call-notes does i t differ from 1’. wythrocephala, and it feeds just as frequently on the ground. Most of the specimens we obtained were shot on the north Hide of the main range, but we also found it below Migyitun in the wet zone south of the Himalayan axis ; but I did not notice it in Pachakshiri. Cranbrook obtained specimens in the Adung Valley in Northern Burma. It inhabits mixed conifer and rhododendron forest, and is also found amongst willow and buckthorn trees, on whose catkins and buds it feeds.

On 19 July I found a nest of the usual frail Bullfinch type about twelve feet from the ground on the top of a young pine tree, a t 10,000 feet, at Pe.

In 1938 i t was observed everywhere between Nang Dzong and Gyala on the Tsangpo, up the Gyamda Chu and Shoga Chu Valleys, and in the Tongkyuik Valley in Pome. In fact it is one of the commonest birds in B.E. Tibet.

[The discovery of the female of this Bullfinch clears up a long-standing blank in Indian ornithology. In April 1862 Lieutenant Beavan saw two males and several females on Mt. Tongaloo at about Woo0 feet. He seoured the males, one too damaged to preserve, but all the females escaped. Nothing more was heard of the species till Maiidelli’s men collected eight males in April 1874, and about the same time Gammie shot a single male a t Jor Bangalam near Darjeeling, which he gave to Hume,. Where exactly Mandelli’s eight birds came from is not known, but one was purchased by Elwes, another by Biddulph, and the remaining six by Hume. The first-mentioned passed into the Rothschild Collection and the remainder to the British Museum, but within recent years one of these has disappeared. In 1‘326 Colonel Meinhertzhagen met with a pair of Beavan’s Bullfinch a t Phalut, 10,000 feet, in Sikkim, on 9 January, and again, curiously enough, the female eluded capture.

Prjevalsky and Pbre David collected both sexes about 1870 in Kansu and Szechuan, and Sharpe, in the ‘ Catalogue of Birds ’, quoted the

* The term “ hlgh altitudes ” moms purely relative. If one lives in the plains of Bengd then 9000 feet seems high ; but if one lives in Tibet at 12,500 feet then 9000 feet seems comparatively low. And, I suppose, an Everest climber would deem 12,600 feet a mere bagatelle.

It contained young birds about a week old.

208 Dr. A. Landsborough Thomson on {Ibis,

former’s description of the female, which has been copied by all writers on Indian birds.

When describing P. alteru Rippon compared the female with specimens in the British Museum from Szechuan and Kansu. Baker states in the ‘Fauna’ that Beavan’s Bullfinch is found in Bhutan and the hills north of Brahmaputra, but gives no authorities for these last two localities, and 1 have been unable to find any previous record of the bird’s occurrence in the Himalayas outside Sikkim.

Ludlow gives the iris as ‘‘ brown to dark brown ” and the feet I‘ fleshy brown to horny brown ”. The species has been divided into a number of races, which for the most part differ according to the tint of the breast in the male. Without a very large series collebted a t different times of the year it is impossible to decide how many races should be recognized.

I n our series of P. e . altera Rippon ; N.W. Yunnan and S.W. Szechuan, the males have redder breasts than Sikkim specimens, while in P. e . wilderi Riley: N.W. Szechuan, N. Kansu, and Chili, there is a strong yellow tinge.

11 8, Bhutan and S. Tibet : wing 81-86 ; 12 9, wing 79-83 mm.] Pyrrhula nipalensis nipalensis Hodgson . 3600, 9, Yonpu La (8000 ft.), 29 February; 3879, 6, Migyitun

This Bullfinch does not occur north of the main range. The Migyitun (8500 ft.), 26 May.

bird was shot several miles below that village in thick rain forest. (To be continued.]

Harry Forbes Witherby : A Biographical Sketch. By A. LANDSBOROUGH THOMSON, C.B., U.Sc.

(Plate XIV.) WITH the passing of Harry Forhes Witherby, ornithological scieiice has lost a foremost student and very many ornithologists a great friend. His own contributions to the subject were numerous and valuable, their variety indicating the wide range of his interest. He was a dis- tinguished editor, and the literature of ornithology hes been enriched by his labours. He was a leader in ornithological societies, exerting a quiet but effective influence. He was notable for his constant willingness to help other students, and for the encouragement which he unfailingly gave to young recruits. All that he did, whether in his own work or for the aid of others, was marked by unstinted care and critical accuracy. He was a man of cultured tastes, with a keen love of natural history generally and of gardening. His modest and charming personality made him as deeply liked as he was greatly respected.