THE GAME filRDS OF INDIA. 629 



Pere David writes : 



" Hodgson's Eared Pheasant inhabits the pine forests at 

 "elevations varjang from 10,000 to 12,000 feet above sea-level. 

 "It is extremely sociable in its habits, and it is said that 40 or 

 "50 ma}' be found roosting in companies in the pine-trees. 



"It is only to be met with in some of the wooded localities 

 " of China in the high mountains of Western Szechuen, in the 

 "' neighbourhood of Moupin and Ta-tsien-lou, where its exis- 

 '• fence is protected by the superstitious respect of the natives, 

 " It is a very gregarious bird, loving to live in company with 

 " many of its kind, even when engaged in rearing its young, 

 " and it does not wander far from the place where it is bred. 

 " It feeds on leaves, roots, grains and insects. Fortunately for 

 " its safety, the flesh of this Eared Pheasant is but moderately 

 " good to eat, and sportsmen prefer the smaller Pheasants 

 " (Phasianus) as game, since they are more widel}- distributed 

 " and easier to procure." 



Davies in the " Ibis " adds a few more particulars. He writes : 

 " These Eared Pheasants were common in the same sort of 

 "localities as the Blood Pheasants. They were found in large 

 " coveys and run very fast, scarcely ever flying, while they are 

 " so wary that though I saw a great many, I could never get 

 " near enough for a shot. Their call is a very loud harsh 

 " crow, which can be heard for a mile or two. They keep to 

 "high altitudes, and are often found in the snow. The 

 "furthest south I have seen them is a little above lat. 28° to 

 "the N.E. of Chung-tien." 



Crossoptilon tibetanum drouynii, Verreaux. 

 Pere David'' s Eared Pheasant. 



Crossoptilon drouynii. — Verreaux, Nouv. Arch. Mus. Bull., lY., 

 p. 85, pi. III. (1868) ; Swinhoe, P.Z.S. (1871) p. 399 ; Elliott, Mon. 

 Phasianid^ 1, p. XVIII., pi. 15 (1872). 



Crossoiotilon tibetanum. — Oustal., Ann. Sci. Nat. (7) XII., p. 315 

 (1892) pt,. 



Crossoptilon leucurum. — Seebohm, Bull. B.O.C. I., p. 17 

 (1892), icZ. Ibis, 1893, j). 250 ; Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. Birds B.M., 

 XXII., p. 294 (1893) lid., Hand-L., Game Birds 1, p. 253 (1895). 



Crossoptilwn leucurum. — Dresser, Manual Pal. Birds, p. 671 

 (1903). 



Vernacular Names. — Chakgong, Chakai, (Tibetan) ; Bote-Dafe, 

 (Nepal) ; Machi (Chinese). 



Bescription.— Adult Alale and Female. — Differs from tibetanum in 

 being generally a much purer white on the upper plumage, more 



