MONTIFRINGILLA.
Like "Fringilla" but with a longer wing; mountain birds ; nest in rocks or buildings; eggs white.
Montifringilla nivalis nivalis (L.). Fr. l'inson des neiges ; Ger. Schneefink ; Ital. Fringuello alpino.
Crown and nape ashy, mantle brown, wing coverts and secondaries white ; beneath huffy white, centre of throat black (obscured by white tips in winter). Bill black (in winter yellow with black tip). Legs and feet black. Wing 117-125, 9 I LI' 123. Tarsus Bill 13-14. 9 bill in summer yellow with
black tip.
Breeds.—Higher Mountains France, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Balkan Peninsula, Greece ; descending to lower elevations in winter.
M. nivalis aipieola (Pallas). Crown and nape browner ; bill longer and more slender. Wing 2-5 man. shorter. Bill in winter brown, yellowish below at base.
Resident.—Caucasus 10000-14000 feet in summer, lower in winter ; also in \V. Asia to E. Turkestan.