THE SNOW-COCKS. 83 



far ; and when disturbed in bushes, it always 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. SZECHENYI'S PHEASANT GROUSE. TETRAOPHASIS 

 SZECHENYII. 



Tetraophasis szechenyu, Madarasz, Zeitschr. ges. Orn. ii p. 50, 

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

 103 (1893). 

 Tetraophasis desgodiusi, 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, 176 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-lou, 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 himalayensis, 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 



