394 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI T. 



The xisiial mode of trapping them is by setting snares in openings 

 of a long brush fence or wall of stones and boulders ; when the birds 

 come to this, they generally work down it until they come to the 

 opening, in passing through which they are at once caught by one 

 or both legs. They are also enticed into the ordinary spring noose, 

 baited with corn or grain, which has already been described in pre- 

 vious articles. 



According to Hooker, as quoted by Hume : — 



" This, the boldest of the Alpine birds of its kind, frequents 

 the mountain ranges of Eastern .Nepal aud Sikhim at an 

 elevation varying from 10,000 to 14,000 feet, and is very 

 abundant in rasa\j of the valleys among the forests of pine 

 {Abies tvehhianct) and juniper. It seldom or never crows, but 

 emits a weak cackling noise. When put up, it takes a very 

 short flight, and then runs to shelter. During winter it 

 appears to burrow under or in holes amongst the snow ; for 

 I have snared it in January in regions thickly covered with 

 snow, at an altitude of 12,000 feet. [ have seen the young 

 in May. The principal food of the bird consists of the tops 

 of the pine and juniper in spring, and the berries of the latter 

 in autumn and winter ; its flesh has always a very strong 

 flavour, and is moreover uncommonly tough ; it, however, was 

 the only bird I obtained at those great elevations in tolerable 

 abundance for food, and that not very frequently''. The 

 Bhutias say that it acquires an additional spur every year; 

 certain it is that they are more numerous than in any other 

 bird, and that they are not alike on both legs. 1 could not 

 discover the cause of this diflerence ; neither could 1 learn if 

 they were produced at different times. I believe that five 

 on one leg, and four on the other, is the greatest niimber I 

 have observed." 

 Hume also cjuotes a letter written by Jerdon to Elliot in which he 

 says ; — 



" The only time that I have myself seen the Ithagenes was 

 in September 1868, on a trip to the Singhaleela Range, 

 West of Darjeeling. This is a lofty spur that runs Soiith from 

 Kinchinjunga, ending in Mount Tonglo, 10,000 feet. At 

 about 12,000 to 13,000 feet a covey of these beautiful bird, 

 crossed the mountain path I was ascending; and quickly 

 calling for my gun, I knocked one or two over on the ground. 

 Only one bird rose on the wing after I fired ; and it settled 

 down again almost immediately, the rest escaping by running 

 into the underwood in the forest. A native Shikari followed 

 them up, and succeeded in securing three or four more of the 

 family. The young were nearl)^ half-grown, and the cock 

 birds were clothed in the adult male plumage, not so bright or 



