PODOCES. 71 



Genus PODOCES Fischer, 1823. 



In this most remarkable genus are found certain jspecies of 

 birds which appear to be most nearly related to the Choughs but 

 should possibly be placed in a family by themselves. 



The bill is slender and very long and the nostrils completely 

 concealed under stiff plumes ; the wing is short and rounded and 

 the legs long and strong. 



These curious birds, to which the name of Ground Choughs has 

 been given, differ from all other forms of Corvidce in their 

 very weak flight. In habits they are strictly ground-birds 

 spending practically their whole time upon it. They are found 

 only on the high plateaus of Central Asia, a single specimen of 

 one species having straggled into India. 



(50) Podoces humilis. 

 Hume's Gkouxd Chough. 

 Podoces Immilis Hume, Ibia, 1871, p. 408 (Saryu Pass, Yarkand). 

 Vernacular names. Day-day (Tibetan). 



Description. Above sandy brown with whitish collar around 

 neck ; wing-coverts like the back with faint terminal brown bars ; 

 quills brown with pale edges; below pale isabelline with centre 

 of abdomen almost white ; central tail-feathers blackish brown 

 paling to isabelline-white on the outermost. 



Colours of soft parts. Bill and feet black ; iris brown. 



Measurements. Wing 90 to y3 mm.: tail about 65 mm.; tarsus 

 28 mm. ; bill about 23 mm. 



The female is a trifle smaller, wing 88 to 90 mm. 



Distribution. Yarkand to Tibet, Koko Nur and Ivansu. A 

 single specimen has been sent me from the Chambi Valley in the 

 extreme north of Native iSikkim. 



Nidification. This bird breeds freely in Tibet between 11,000 

 and 15.000 feet, making its nest, a sott pad of grass and fur, in 

 burrows of the Mouse-liares, or selt'-made. According to Di-esser 

 the nest is sometimes placed at the end of a tunnel as much as 

 12 feet long, such as one would hardly expect the bird to excavate 

 for itself. The eggs, either three or four in number, are pure 

 white and measure about 22*9 x 16-4 mm. The breeding season 

 is May, June and July. 



Habits. They inhabit the same uplands as those inhabited by 

 the Mouse-hares but are sometimes seen away from them. Their 

 flight is very low and feeble and they are essentially ground-birds, 

 spending their whole time thereon and never perching on trees or 

 bushes. Thev are insect feeders. 



