8o ALLEN'S naturalist's LIBRARY. 



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 lerwa, Hodgs. P. Z. S. 1833, p. 107. 



Leriva nivicola, Hodgs. Madr. Journ. v. p. 301 (1837) ; Hume 



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

 Ler7va leriva, 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. 



HaMts. — 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 (Tetraogalhis), 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, calling the whole time, and often cluster 



