8o LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



than the second and longest. Sexes similar in plumage, but 

 the male is armed with a stout spur on each leg. 

 Only one species is known. 



I. THE SNOW PARTRIDGE. LERWA LERWA. 



Perdix krwa, Hodgs. P. Z. S. 1833, p. 107. 



Lejiva nivicola^ Hodgs. Madr. Journ. v. p. 301 (1837) ; Hume 



and Marshall, Game Birds of India, ii. p. i, pi. (1879). 

 Lerwa krwa, Hartert, Kat. Mus. Senckenb. p. 195 (1891); 

 Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 100 (1893). 



Adult Male and Female. — Upper-parts black, narrowly barred 

 with whitish ; under-parts mostly rich chestnut. Bill and feet 

 red. Total length, 14 inches; wing, 7*5; tail, 4-5; tarsus, 17. 



Range. — The higher ranges of the Himalayas, and extending 

 northwards to Moupin and Western Sze-chuen, China. 



Habits. — This handsome Alpine Partridge is about the size of 

 a Red Grouse, which species it resembles in its strong rapid 

 flight, and in the excellence of its flesh for the table. Mr. 

 Wilson says : " In general haunts and habits, this bird much 

 resembles the Snow Pheasant {Tetraoga litis), frequenting the 

 same high regions near the snow in summer, and migrating to 

 the same bare hills and rocks in winter. The Pheasant, how- 

 ever, prefers the grassy slopes and softer parts of the hills, the 

 Partridge the more abrupt and rocky portions, where the vege- 

 tation is scantier, and more of a mossy than a grassy character. 

 They are also more local, and confined to particular spots, and 

 do not, like the Pheasant, ramble indiscriminately over almost 

 every part of the hill. 



" They are generally remarkably tame. When approached, 

 they utter a harsh whistle, and if they keep still, it is often 

 several moments before they can be distinguished, their plu- 

 mage much resembling and blending with the general colour 

 of much of the ground they frequent. If approached from 

 above, they fly off at once ; if from below, they walk away in 

 the opposite direction, caUing the whole time, and often cluster 



