BIRDS IN BRITISH GARHWAL, 159 
from 10,000’ to 14,000’ elevation, but for Garhwal I should say without 
‘hesitation 9,000’ to 12,000’. The same author states that in winter they descend 
to 6,000’ and even 5,000’, but under the most severe conditions of weather I have 
never seen a bird below 6,500’, and the normal elevation for this time of year 
would be 8,000’ to 10,000’.. As regards the destruction of these birds for their 
plumage no such case has ever come to my notice in Garhwal where I believe this 
practice does not now exist. Hume’s note on the food of this bird agrees with 
my own observations, and I might add that the monal is very fond of the ripe 
fruit of Cotoneaster microphylla. 
Tragopan satyra (1344).—The Crimson Horned Pheasant. 
T have only met with this pheasant on two occasions, one was near the village 
of Wan and the other in the Nawali reserve. Both these places are within the 
water-shed of the Kail Ganga and situated fully 20 miles in a direct line east of 
the Alakhnanda river, which has hitherto always been quoted as the western 
limit of this bird. On both occasions the birds were frequenting dense ringal 
forest. 
Arboricola torqueola (1362).—The Common Hill-Partridge. 
This partridge is found at suitable elevations throughout the hills. It is com. 
monest in dense forest of banj (Quercus incana) from 6,000’ to 7,000’ elevation. 
As a rule few birds are seen during a dav’s excursion, though in specially favoured 
localities perhaps two dozen or more birds may be flushed within an area of a 
few acres. Such favoured localities occur where the gradients are not too steep 
and there is a rich moist humus beneath dense forest of oak, laurel and other 
evergreen trees and shrubs. They usually run when first disturbed, and a dog 
may have to follow a considerable distance before he comes up with one of these 
birds when it is running on ahead ; but when they have once been flushed 
they almost invariably sit very close, and this is especially the case if they have 
been already fired at and missed. 
Francolinus vulgaris (1372).—The Black Partridge. 
The Black Partridge is widely distributed all over Garhwal, and at Wan I have 
observed it at an elevation of 8,800’ which is unusually high. 
Tetraogallus himalayensis (1378).—The Himalayan Snow-Cock. 
In summer this bird not uncommonly descends to 8,000’ elevation, but never 
to my knowledge enters forests of any description. It is never found away from 
those spurs which diverge directly from the main Himalayan range, though a 
few birds annually frequent the bare slopes above Kheta in the Pindar valley 
during the winter months. I have never seen it in any numbers except in the 
tract lying north of Malari and Niti where it is fairly common and a great source 
of annoyance to anyone attempting to approach the wary burhal. In the early 
spring I found it feeding on a small grass-like herb Gagea lutea which grows in 
large quantities round deserted habitations and old camping grounds. When 
disturbed these birds, unless at very close quarters, usually commence to run 
away up hill and continue to climb till they have reached a point of vantage on 
some high ridge or projecting rock whence they probably make an extended 
flight. I have seen them make flights of fully a mile, often straight across some 
wide intervening valley, and whilst on the wing they seem invariably to utter a 
whistling note. When running away up bill they carry their short tails rather 
high up so as to show the white feathers beneath, and at this time their waddling 
gait is distinctly reminiscent of a goose. From the middle of May onwards 
they are found in pairs usually at elevations from 12,000’ to 14,000’. The breed- 
ing call is a prolonged whistle uttered with great persistence. The male when 
courting pursues the female in a crouching position with his tail held vertically 
up inthe air. After a few minutes of this courtship they probably both take to 
their wings making a loud wild whistling cackle as long as the flight[continues. 
