503 



of the parent before they can fly, and, strictly speaking, are not fit 

 for shooting until the middle of September. During incubation, the 

 male remains near the nest, and can be heard calling all day ; its 

 call much resembles that of the domestic hen, being a " cue cue " 

 repeated often. There is no difference in the plumage of the sexes ; 

 only the males have rudimentary spurs. The Chuckor is easily 

 domesticated, and will associate with poultry. The Cashmerees call 

 it Kau-Kau, from its cry ; although not found in the valley, it is 

 common on the low hills around. This bird probably affords better 

 sport than any other species of the family in India, as the rapidity 

 of its flight and the situations it frequents try the energies of the 

 sportsman. 



229. Ammoperdix bonhami (G. R. Gray). 



The existence of this species has been known for several years ; 

 but until lately all the specimens were brought from Afghanistan, 

 where it abounds on sandy wastes and barren mountains. It is 

 plentiful on the low hills of the Northern Punjab, particularly the 

 Salt and Suliman Ranges ; I do not think it is found further 

 south than the former mountains, and I never saw the species on the 

 Western Himalayas. It bears a close resemblance in habits to the 

 last species, and is often seen with it. It is known by the name of 

 " Sisi " in the Punjab. 



230. Perdix hodgsonii (Gould, B. A.). 



Tibet Partridge. 



As early as 1841 Mr. Wilson, an indefatigable and discerning 

 sportsman, shot a species of Partridge near the village of Soukee, on 

 the Snowy Ranges north of Mussouree ; and from the description 

 given by him in his " Notes on the Habits of the Game Birds of the 

 Himalayas," published in the December number of the ' Calcutta 

 Sporting Review' for 1848, I had no difficulty in detecting its simi- 

 larity to a specimen killed by Capt. Smith, 75th Regiment, in Nobra, 

 Northern Ladakh, during the summer of 1854. Mr. Hodgson met 

 with the species on the Nipal Ranges, and subsequently published 

 an account of it in the ' Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal,' 

 vol. xxv. p. 165 ; but to Captain Smith is the credit due of having 

 brought the first specimen to Europe, from which Mr. Gould's de- 

 lineation was taken. Captain Smith's specimen has since been de- 

 posited in the British Museum. It would appear, from Wilson's 

 and Smith's accounts, that the bird is very rare in the districts they 

 visited, which I apprehend were only its most southern limits. 



231. Arboricola TORdUEOLA (Valenciennes). 



Wood Partridge and Hill Partridge of Europeans ; Ban tetra of 

 the natives. 



Nowhere common ; frequents forests and thick jungles, generally 

 seen single or in pairs ; a few are occasionally met with in the oak 

 forests on the ranges around Simla, Western Himalayas. 



