82 Lloyd's natural history. 



Tetraophasis obscurus, Elliot, Monogr. Phas. i. pi. xxi. (1871) ; 

 Prjev. in Rowley's Orn. Misc. ii. p. 429 (1877); Ogilvie- 

 Grant, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 102 (1893). 



Adult Male and Female. — Above mostly dull olive-brown, barred 

 with buff on the wings ; below grey spotted with black, shad- 

 ing into buff on the belly. Distinguished by having the chin, 

 throat, and fore-part of neck dark chestnut. The male measures : 

 Total length, 1 8 -6 inches j wing, 8-3; tail, 63; tarsus, 22. The 

 female is rather smaller. 



Range. — Eastern Tibet, ranging from Moupin to Koko-nor 

 and the mountains of Kansu. 



Habits. — Prjevalsky gives the following account of the Dusky 

 Pheasant-Grouse : " We found T. obscurus in the same locali- 

 ties in Kansu as the preceding species (the Tibetan Snow 

 Cock), only at a comparatively lower altitude. It was first dis- 

 covered by Abbe David in Si-chuani (Sze-chuen), and belongs to 

 the middle mountain-ranges, where it principally keeps to the 

 wooded and bush-covered rocks and ravines. Early in spring 

 (about March) they commence pairing, and from that time their 

 voice can be heard daily. It is similar to that of Crossoptilon 

 auritum (the Eared Pheasant), being, however, more varied 

 and longer-lasting. The male and female call at the same 

 time, running side by side, with the tail erected and wings 

 dropped. The spreading of the tail is very characteristic \ it 

 is like a fan when erected. And this is done also when the 

 bird is surprised or runs in order to avoid danger. When 

 open, the tail is brownish-black, with a distinctly marked white 

 band. 



" Like Crossoptilon auritum, the present species does not call 

 much, and its voice can be heard only four or five times at 

 certain intervals, but always (or, rather, usually) in the morn- 

 ing at sunrise ; and as soon as one pair commences calling, 

 others answer. 



11 When flushed, T. obscurus utters a loud cry, but does not fly 





