636 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. liOCIETY, Vol. XXV. 



ciomparatively well-defined on the terminal half of the feathers, and 

 also form a well-marked, broad sub-terminal band. 



Colours of the soft parts. — As in P. m. macroloplia. 



Measurements. — About the same as in P. m. macroloplia. 



Distribution. — Northern Kashmir from Ladak to the extreme 

 West, where the Indus probably forms its Western Boundary, 

 where this River runs due North and South. Where, however, 

 the Indus runs East and West, it does not fDrm the Northern 

 Boundary for the birds from Gilgit, the Gangri Kange North of 

 Leh and Northern Ladak are all quite typical hiddidphi. 



Where this form meets castanea is an undecided question, and 

 sportsmen shooting on the N.-E. Frontier have still to settle it so 

 that they should remember that any skins, of males especially, are 

 very badly wanted from practically anywhere in the N.-W. Frontier 

 Provinces. 



Nidijication. — This Pheasant breeds in Ladak at elevations 

 between 7,000 and 10,000 feet, and its nest and eggs have been 

 taken there by Col. A. E. Ward and his collectors on several 

 occasions. Nests have also been taken by different collectors, north 

 of Srinagar, and Mr. Davidson remarked that he found it common 

 above Gund, but apparently failed to obtain the nest. 



Like the Common Koklas, the Kashmir bird nests in forests, 

 often of pine or fir, and lays its pggs in a collection of leaves and 

 rubbish under the protection of a thick bush, tree or bank ; aome- 

 times under a boulder or projecting rock. The nest itself may be 

 either a mere heap of wind-blown leaves and grass, gathered 

 together in some partially sheltered corner or a mass of similar 

 material scraped together by the bird itself. 



The number of eggs laid appears to vary from 4 to 9, 5 or 6 

 being the more often found. 



I have but two clutches of eggs of this form of Koklas. These 

 in appearance cannot, of course, be distinguished from many of 

 those of its more southern cousin. One clutch of 6 and one clutch 

 of 4 contain eggs varying in size from 49'8 x 36*2 mm. to one 

 51-4 X 36-3 mm., and another 50-4 x 38-2 mm. 



The breeding season seems to commence in the end of May and 

 last through June into the mid ''•> of July. 



General Habits. — The Kashmir Koklas inhabits much the same 

 kind of country as does the Common Koklas, but would not seem 

 ever to descend below some 5,000 feet, and not often as low as this. 

 It is curious, therefore, that its general plumage should be darker 

 than that of the latter bird and evidently in this sub-species eleva- 

 tion and humidity are not the dominant factors in producing depth 

 of colouring, a course of reasoning which is emphasised when we 

 find that the Chitral bird, of still more arid clime is darker and 

 redder vet. 



