. Tharrhaleus strophiatus.
The Rufous-breasted Accentor.
Accentor strophiatus, Hodgs., Blyth, J. A. S. B. xii, p. 959 (1843); Blyth, Cat. p. 131; Horsf. & M. Cat. i, p. 360; Jerd. B. I. ii, p. 287 ; Hume, N. & E. p. 401; id. Cat. no. 654; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. vii, p. 658. Accentor multistriatus, David, A. M. N. H. (4), vii, p. 256 (1871). Tharrhaleus strophiatus (Hodgs.), Oates in Hume's N. & E. 2nd ed. ii, p. 113.
Phooching-pho, Lepch.
Coloration. The whole upper plumage rufous-brown streaked with black; wings dark brown edged with rufous, the coverts tipped with fulvous on the outer web; tail brown; lores, cheeks, and ear-coverts black ; a broad supercilium, white in front of the eye, deep ferruginous behind, bordered above by a black band ; chin and throat white, spotted with black chiefly at the sides ; sides of neck ashy streaked with black ; breast deep ferruginous; middle of abdomen whitish; remainder of lower plumage reddish brown streaked with black.
Many birds have the breast streaked with black; they are probably birds of the first winter.
Bill black ; legs reddish brown ; iris dark brown (Jerdon).
Length about 5.5; tail 2.3 ; wing 2.7; tarsus .8 ; bill from gape .55.
Distribution. Sikhim and Nepal, extending west along the Himalayas to Kotgarh. This species appears to be a constant resident in the higher portions of the Himalayas and to breed both in Nepal and Sikhim. It is found throughout Tibet and Western China.
Habits, &c. According to Hodgson this species makes a cup-shaped nest of grass-roots and moss, lined with wool and hair, in tufts of grass, and lays three or four eggs, which measure about .74 by .54.
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