105 
A letter from George Robert Gray, Esq., addressed to the Curator, 
was next read. This letter refers to the members of J. E. Gray’s genus 
Tetraogallus, or Mountain Partridge, a rare species of which is at 
present in the Society’s menagerie, having been brought from North- 
ern Persia, and presented to the Society by E. W. Bonham, Esq., 
H.B.M. Consul at Tabrez. Mr. G. R. Gray is of opinion that there 
exist three species of the genus Tetraogallus, each peculiar to one of 
the three following localities, viz. Caucasus, the Himalayan and the 
Altai Mountains. 
The bird in the Society’s menagerie, Mr. G.R.Gray observes, is well 
figured in plate 76 of Jardine and Selby’s ‘Illustrations,’ and the 
specimen figured is, like that belonging to the Zoological Society, 
from Persia. It is peculiar in having the head, neck and breast of 
a slate colour, passing into pale reddish brown on the upper part of 
the back ; a dingy white streak extends from the nostril to the an- 
terior angle of the eye; the chin and throat, as well as an oblong 
patch on the side of the neck, are white ; the breast is of a dark slate 
colour, and has short wavy black lines, especially just below the 
white of the throat. The figure referred to represents the typical 
Lophophorus Nigelli, which is most probably identical with the 
Tetrao Caucasica of Pallas; and if this supposition be correct, the 
earlier specific name given by the author just mentioned should be 
retained, as Tetraogallus Caucasicus. 
Mr. G. R. Gray also believes the Chourtka alpina of Victor to be 
the same species as the bird under consideration. 
In plate 141 of Messrs. Jardine and Selby’s ‘ Illustrations,’ a Te- 
traogallus is represented, which the authors suppose to be the male 
of the bird figured in plate 76 ; this is also delineated under the name 
of Tetraogallus Nigelli by Mr. J. E. Gray in the ‘ Indian Zoology.’ 
This bird Mr. G. R. Gray, however, considers a distinct species, 
which is peculiar to the Himalaya Mountains, whence he has seen 
many specimens, all agreeing in colour. For this species the name 
Tetraogallus Himalayensis is proposed. It is distinguishable by its 
silky white neck and breast ; a deep chestnut-brown line runs down, 
and partly surrounds the base of the neck, and the breast is variegated 
in front with black, each plume having a transverse band on the 
middle, which partly appears below the white tips of the other 
feathers. 
The third species, Perdiz altaica of M. Gebler, the distinctness of 
which there can be no doubt of, has the breast-feathers grey-black at 
- the base; and this colour extends along the shafts, and forms an 
arched spot on each side of each feather: the under tail-coverts are 
white. It shculd be named Tetraogallus aliuicus. 
