160 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII, 
Lerwa nivicola (1380).—The Snow-Partridge. 
This partridge is never seen in large numbers though it is by no means rare. 
The breeding call is very similar indeed to that of the common grey partridge of 
the plains, but when alarmed a single whistle is uttered. 
Scolopax rusticola (1482).—The Woodcock. 
Though similar cases have I feel sure been frequently recorded, the following 
note written 28th June 1914 at Kulara, a camping ground at 10,500’ elevation in 
Painkhanda Malla, may still be of some interest: ‘‘ The forest here is mostly 
composed of silver fir with a fairly dense undergrowth of shrubs. As I was 
walking through the forest to-day a woodcock got up from a few yards off, flew 
some ten yards and then began to flap its wings wildly and to scream as if some- 
thing was killing it. I was completely taken in by the ruse and rushed up to where 
the bird was. But when I got a few yards off it flew on another ten yards and 
repeated the trick. It did this several times, and finally flew some distance 
away. I went back and sat down in concealment close to where I had first seen 
the bird. In about one minute she came running back through the undergrowth, 
and was at once met by one of her young ones. In another minute I showed 
myself and the mother flew off some 20 yards as before. I found the youngster 
crouching under a log. Its quills were just emerging from their sheaths.” 
During May and June woodcock may usually be seen round kharaks (cleared 
camping grounds in the forest where sheep and goats are temporarily located 
for grazing purposes) between 9,000’ and 11,000’ elevation. Both at dusk and 
again at dawn they may be observed slowly flapping across the open spaces and 
uttering at frequent intervals a bat-like squeak. In the winter they may be 
found at almost any elevation from 5,000’ upwards, but owing to the steepness 
of the slopes and the comparative absence of flat marshy ground woodcock are 
never found in any abundance, and it has seldom been my fortune to see more 
than a couple of birds during a day’s march. 
Gallinago solitaria (1486).—The Himalayan Solitary Snipe. 
I have shot this bird on very few occasions as they are not at all common. 
In May and June, at which time they might possibly be breeding, I have twice 
met with them along stony beds of streams at about 8,000’ elevation. I have 
never seen or shot the wood-snipe, Gallinago nemoricola. 
Phalacrocoraz carbo (1526).—The Large Cormorant. 
This bird is not uncommonly seen along the Alakhnanda and its main tribu- 
taries, the Mandagini and Pindar. 
