Blood-Pheasa nts. 229 



run away and often take refuge on branches 

 of trees. I have shot five or six out of 

 one flock by following them up ; they 

 usually escape up hill, and if, as frequently 

 takes place, the flock has been scattered, 

 after a few minutes they commence calling 

 with a peculiar long cry, something like 

 the squeal of a kite. The only other note 

 I heard was a short monosyllabic note of 

 alarm ; I have heard a bird utter this when 

 sitting on a branch within twenty yards of 

 me." He adds that the birds were ex- 

 cellent eating, probably because at the 

 season when he shot them they were not 

 feeding upon pine or juniper. 



Dr. Hooker, as quoted by Dr. Jerdon, 

 remarks : " This, the boldest of the Alpine 

 birds of its kind, frequents the mountain 

 ranges of Nepal and Sikhim, at an eleva- 

 tion varying from 10,000 to 14,000 feet, 

 and is very abundant in many of the 

 valleys, among the forests of Pine {Abies 

 webbiana) and Juniper. It seldom or 

 never crows, but emits a weak cackling 

 noise. When put up, it takes a very short 

 flight and then runs to shelter. During 

 winter it appears to burrow under or in 

 holes amongst the snow, for I have snared 

 it in January in regions thickly covered 

 with snow, at an altitude of 12,000 feet. 



