TETRAOGALLUS HIMALAYENSIS, G. R. Gray.

Himalayan Snow Partridge.

Tetraogallus Himalayensis, G. R. Gray in Proce. of Zool. Soc., Part X. p. 105.—Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat.
Soc. Calcutta, p. 248.—Gray, List of Spec. of Birds in Brit. Mus. Coll., Part III. p. 30.

Tetraogallus Nigelli, J. E. Gray in Hardw. Ill. Ind. Zool., vol. ii. pl. 46.—Vigne in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part IX.

[6

Lophophorus Nigel, Jard. and Selb. Ill. Orn., vol. iii. pl. 141.

Kubuk Deri, Vigne, Travels in Kashmir, vol. ii. p. 18.

Tetraogallus caucasicus, G. R. Gray, List of Sp. and Draw. of Mamm. and Birds presented to Brit. Mus. by
B. H. Hodgson, Esq., p. 126.—Hutton, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xvi. p. 782.

 

As its name implies, this species is a native of the Himalayas, where it is spread over a vast extent of
country, but appears to be most abundant along the southern dip of the mountains generally, as well as in
the greater part of Tibet. In the Museum of the East India Company there is a specimen sent from Ladahk
by Captain Strachey ; and in the British Museum another obtained from St. Petersburg, which is believed
to be from Siberia; the great water-shed of Asia must therefore be considered the native head quarters
of the species. Mr. Vigne observed it in Cashmere, and states that ‘‘ in the Himalayas behind Simla it
inhabits the snowy panjabs on both sides of the valley, but is more common in the Tibets. This mag-
nificent Partridge is about five times the size of the common English bird, and is generally of a grey colour,
the feathers being edged with light reddish brown. I had several of them alive, and am confident that they
might be brought down the Indus to England, as they thrived well so long as I looked after them myself.”

The Himalayan Snow Partridge, which may be considered the most noble species of the genus, both as
regards size and the variety of its markings, may be readily distinguished from its congeners by the conspicuous
chestnut streaks on the sides of the neck, by the black and white scale-like feathers of the chest, and by
the dark slate-colour of its under surface. It is this fine species especially that I should wish to see natu-
ralized in Europe; and as it is the one most easily obtainable, surely it might be sent by way of Egypt
without much trouble or expense either to the transmitter or to the receiver.

‘«« These fine birds,” says Capt. Hutton, ‘‘ are common in the Huzzarah Mountains and other high ranges ;
they are called Kowk-durra, or Partridge of the ghats or passes. Sometimes they are sold in the markets of
Cabool. I possessed four living birds at Candahar, which were kept with wings cut in a large court-yard
and lived well for many months. I gave them to a friend, Captain M°Lean, of the 67th Reg. N.I., who
wished to take them home to the highlands of Scotland, but he unfortunately died on his way back to India,
and I know not what became of the birds. They are common on the snowy passes of the Himalaya and in
Tartary; rise in coveys of from ten to twenty, and usually have a sentry perched high on some neighbour-
ing rock, to give warning of danger by his loud and musical whistle. They are difficult birds to shoot.
I usually found them in patches of the so-called Tartaric furze.”

Captain Boys, who procured examples on the 16th of May, 1842, immediately below the snow on Choping
Peak above Mullarin, states that it is very strong on the wing, and that its flights are very protracted ; its
note he says resembles that of a Dipper (Cinclus), finishing with the cluck of a Chuckar (Perdia Chukar) ;
during flight it emits a shrill whistle, somewhat similar to that of the Monaul (Lophophorus Impeyanus).
Its weight is nearly six pounds.

The eggs, of which examples are contained in the British Museum and in the Collection of H. F. Wal-
ter, Esq., are about the size of those of a Turkey, but, like those of the Grouse, are of a more lengthened
form; their ground colour is clear light olive, sparingly dotted over with small light chestnut spots: the
length of the British Museum specimen is two and three quarters of an inch long by one inch and three
quarters broad.

The sexes are alike in colouring, and may be thus described :—

Crown of the head and cheeks grey; over the eye a line of buffy white ; round the throat a collar of red-