Notices of Books. 9393 



I take the remaining extracts in succession, without interspersing 

 thera with any comments of my own. 



" The Hunalayan Snow-cock (Tetraogallus Himalayensis). — This 

 fine bird is found throughout all the western portion, at all events of 

 the Himalayan range, as far as Nepal, but it is not certain if it extend 

 eastward into Sikim and Bootan. It is also found across the higher 

 ranges in Chinese Tartary and Thibet. It is probably the species ob- 

 served in Cashmere by Vigue, who states that it inhabits the Snowy 

 Punjab on both sides of the valley, but more common on the Tliibet 

 side. ' These fine birds,' says Hutton, ' are common in the Hazara 

 mountains, and are called Kauk-i-durra, or the " Partridge of the 

 Ghats," by the Affghans, and they are sometimes sold in the markets 

 of Cabool and Candahar. They rise in coveys of from ten to twenty, 

 and usually have a sentry perched on some neighbouring rock, to give 

 warning of danger by his low and musical whistle. They are difficult 

 birds to shoot; I found them in patches of the so-called Tartaric 

 furze. Captain Boys states that it is strong on the wing, and that its 

 flights are very protracted. Its note, he says, resembles that of a dip- 

 per {Cinclus), finishing with the cluck of a chukor. During flight it 

 emits a shrill whistle, somewhat similar to that of the monaul.' It 

 is confined exclusively to the snowy ranges, or the large spurs jut- 

 ting from them, which are elevated above the limits of the forest, but 

 is driven by the snows of winter to perform one, and in some places 

 two, annual migrations to the middle regions ; in summer they are 

 only seen near the limits of vegetation. In Koonour (Kunawur) they 

 are common at all seasons, from Chenee upwards ; but on the Gan- 

 getic hills, from June till August, however much a person wanders 

 about on the highest accessible places, but few are met with, and I have 

 no doubt whatever but that nearly all which at other seasons frequent 

 this part retire across the snow into Chinese Tartary to breed. About 

 the beginning of September they are first seen near the tops of the 

 higher grassy ridges jutting from the snow, and the green slopes above 

 and about the limits of the forest. After the first general and severe 

 fall of snow, they come down in numbers on to some of the bare ex- 

 posed hills in the forest regions, and remain there till the end of March. 

 This partial migration is probably made in the night after the fall of 

 snow, as I have invariably found them in their winter quarters early 

 the next morning. It requires a deep fall to drive them down, and 

 some mild winters, except a few odd birds, they do not come at all. 

 The birds on each respective hill seem to have a particular spot for 

 their winter resort, which they return to ever}'^ year the migration is 

 V^OL. XXIII. C 



