THE SNOW-COCKS. 83 



f.u ; and when disturbed in bushes, it ahvays attempts to escape 

 by running. Shooting these birds is extremely difficult." 



Nest. — According to the statements of natives, the nest is 

 constructed of grass, on the ground, under thick bushes. 



Eggs. — Number unknown ; but one lot of four incubated, and 

 another of three fresh, eggs were obtained by a native sports- 

 man for Prjevalsky. The eggs are yellowish-grey or dirty grey, 

 marked with brown spots, which are thickest on the smaller 

 end. 



II. SZECHENYl'S PHEASANT GROUSE. TETRAOPHASIS 

 SZECHENYII. 



Tetraopliasis szechenyii^ Madarasz, Zeitschr. ges. Orn. ii. p. 50, 

 pi. ii. (1885); Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 

 103 (1893). 

 Tetraophasis desgodi?isi\ Oustalet, Le Nat. 1886, p. 276. 



Adult Male and Female. — Distinguished by having the chin, 

 throat, and fore-part of the neck pale fawn-colour. The male 

 measures: Total length, iy6 inches; wing, 8-9; tail, 6-i; 

 tarsus, 2*2. The female is slightly smaller. 



Range. — Mountains of Central Tibet, extending north to the 

 Sok Pass, east to Ta-tsien-loil, and south to Yer-ka-lo, Mekong 

 River. 



THE SNOW-COCKS. GENUS TETRAOGALLUS. 

 Tetraogallus, J. E. Gray, 111. Ind. Zool. ii. pi. 46 (1833). 



Type, T. himalayoisis, J. E. Gray. 

 Feathers on the feet scarcely extending below the tarsal 

 joint ; tail composed of twenty or twenty-two feathers, rather 

 long, five-eighths of the length of the wing, rounded, the outer 

 pair of feathers being about two inches shorter than the middle 

 pair ; first flight-feather about equal to the fifth ; an elongate 

 naked patch behind the eye. The feet of the male are pro- 

 vided with a pair of stout spurs. 



The six species included in the genus are all large Alpine 



G 2 



