J&ouM/fcfiGBicIdtr, d el ( t M u R E GULTTS HIMALAYEITSI S , Btyth.
REGULUS HIMALAYENSIS, Biyth.
Himalayan Goldcrest.
Reguhs cristatus, Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 186.—v. Pelz. Ibis, 1868, p. 308.
“Regulus Himalagensis, Blyth,” Jerd. Birds of India, vol. ii. part i. p. 206.
1 h a t the avifauna of India should be destitute o f a member of the genus Regulus could not have been even
suspected, since the form occurs in Asia Minor on the west, and in Amoorland and Japan on the east. It
is strictly a northern genus, no species being found to the southward of the equator. In the New World two
species occur, one, R . satrapa, in North America, and the other, R . (Reguloides) calendula, in Mexico. In
the Old World we find R . igtiicapillus, R . cristatus, and R . Maderensis, the two former of which are spread
over Europe and North Africa, while the third appears to be confined to the island of Madeira. The five
birds above mentioned are regarded as true and distinct species by every ornithologist, while that represented
on the opposite Plate (R . Himalagensis) and the R . Japónicas o f Bonaparte are considered to be of
questionable specific value. Now, as I have before me specimens of R . cristatus collected in England and
France, of R . Japónicas from the island whence it derives its name, and a fine male specimen from the
Himalayas, I will point out the differences, slight or otherwise, which I find to exist among these distantly
located examples. As is the case with many other nearly allied species of Europe and Japan, the Reguli
inhabiting those countries very closely assimilate, while they differ from the bird found in the Himalayas, the
latter being considerably larger in size, having longer wings, and the centre of the crest of a paler hue, or not
so intensely orange as in either of its congeners ; in every other part of their plumage all three are very
similar. After this brief notice of the little difference which really exists between R . cristatus, R . Japonicus,
and R . Himalagensis, ornithologists must form their own opinion as to whether they are really three distinct,
or only one and the same species. Those who take the latter view will hold that the R . cristatus ranges
over the greater part of the Old W orld, from Ireland to Ja p a n ; and this may be the true state of the c a se :
whether it be or be not, it becomes my duty to give a place to the Himalayan Goldcrest in ‘ The Birds of
Asia. I close these remarks with stating my belief that if a number o f European, Himalayan, and
Japanese specimens were mingled together, a competent ornithologist would have no difficulty in deciding
to which country each belonged. The admeasurements of birds cannot be depended upon; but I repeat that
I find the Himalayan bird to be larger than that of Japan, which, again, somewhat exceeds the size of the
favourite little Goldcrest of Europe.
Of the R . Himalagensis very little is known; Mr. Jerdon merely mentions that it is “ very like the
Regulus mstatus, but larger, and the flame-coloured interior of the crest more developed.
“ The Himalayan Fire-crested Wren has only been found iu the N. W. Himalayas, and, even there, apparently
not very common.”
Von Pelzeln in his paper on “ Birds from Thibet and the Himalayas,” after mentioning that Dr. Stoliczka
met with the bird at Kotegurh in winter, remarks, “ most careful comparison has convinced me of the
specific identity of the European and Asiatic birds.”
General colour olive-green, becoming somewhat yellow on the rump, and more grey on the under surface;
lores grey; superciliary stripe brown, above which is a streak of black ; centre of the crown yellowish
orange, bordered externally with paler yellow; lesser and greater wing-coverts yellowish white, forming
two bands across the wing; primaries dark brown, margined externally with olive, and with a black spot
at the base of the sixth, seventh, and eighth ; bill black; feet brownish flesh-colour.
Total length 3 i inches, bill -¡V, wing 2-f, tail 1-fv, tarsi
The figures are somewhat less than the natural size.