292 THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC. 



The drumming of these birds is very remarkable. It commences in the 

 early part of May, The male puts its wings down, blow^s up the feathers of 

 the neck, bends its head downwards, and keeps running round the female ; 

 then it flies aside for about fifty yards, and throws itself down on the ground 

 where the female is sitting. During the quick movement downwards, the 

 wings make a peculiar shivering noise ; and whilst the male approaches a 

 few inches above the head of the female, she bends her head towards 

 the ground, and vibrates her wings. This manoeuvre often lasts for ten 

 minutes, the male rising at intervals and singing his simple but not unpleasant 

 note. He is very cheerful, and sings even in severe cold. 



During the breeding-season the cocks fight very much, jumping against 

 each other, something like the common Barn-door Fowl. Whilst visiting 

 Koko-nor, in the month of March, these birds were just constructing their 

 nests ; but we did not notice them breeding at that time. 



The sources of Tetung-gol and the Koko-nor basin form the northern 

 boundary of its geographical distribution. 



148. Pyrgilauda davidiana, J. Verr. 



Nouv. Arch, du Mus. vii. 1871^ pi. i. 



These birds belong exclusively to the Mongolian highlands, and even 

 here inhabit only the northern and south-eastern borders of Gobi, where the 

 desert commences to attain the character of a steppe. We obtained speci- 

 mens in the vicinity of Urgey, and between Dolai-nor and the northern bend. 



The voice of P. davidiana resembles that of Pyrgita petronia. The 

 flight is wavering ; it runs very fast, and, when sitting, often vibrates its 

 wings, just like a Chat. It principally inhabits the hilly steppes and 

 valleys, and avoids low mountains, forming in winter small flocks about 

 fifty in number. But early in spring (about March) they disperse in 



