Birds of the Zarafschan Basin. 473 



146. Tetraogallus himai.ayensis. 



Tetraogallus himalayensis Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. B. xxii. 

 p. 106. 



S . Hissar Mts. 1 May, 1908. No. 399. 



The Himalayan Snow-cock extends into the Hissar 

 mountains and is to be found in fair numbers within a few 

 days' journey of Samarkand. This is probably their most 

 westerly range, and they do not descend below 10,000 ft. in 

 summer. 



The Snow-cock is highly prized by the natives of 

 Turkestan as a fighting bird. Cock-fighting is one of their 

 chief pastimes, but Quails, Chucar Partridges, and even 

 Snow-cocks are also employed. 



Its native name is ' Ulah.' 



147. Caccabis chucar. 



Caccabis chucar Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. B. xxii. p. 113. 



S . Samarkand. May, 1908. Nos. 417, 418. 



$ . „ May, 1908. No. 419. 



Wherever there are rocky hills, from 1000 up to 10,000 ft., 

 the Chucar Partridge is found in great numbers. 



Having collected specimens of C. chucar in different 

 localities, from, the low, hot, Dead Sea basin at 1300 ft. 

 beloio the level of the ocean, up to 10,000 ft. above in Central 

 Asia, 1 have not been able to notice any constant variation, 

 either in plumage or size, in birds from the different 

 altitudes. 



These specimens are of the light variety, being found on 

 barren rocky hills, and probably correspond with the Af- 

 ghanistan and Persian forms rather than with those of the 

 Himalayas and Tian Shan. 



Appendix. 



Examples of" the folio wing birds were obtained in the 

 Zarafschan Valley, and the species were determined, but the 

 specimens were not brought home. 



1. Corvus corax Linn. 

 Samarkand. 22 Oct., 1907. 



