THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC. 421 



me that the young are always accompanied by both parents. The old, 

 as well as the young, run very fast, and are very clever in hiding themselves 

 in thick bushes when pursued, and generally depend more upon their legs 

 than upon their wings. 



Like most of the family, these birds are fond of digging about in the 

 ground in search of roots ; and it appears that they chiefly feed upon plants. 



In Kan-su, about Chertinton and along the valley of the river Ranghta, 

 this Pheasant is rather scarce ; but about Tetung-gol, in the neighbourhood 

 of Simney, it is very abundant, especially so a little higher up the river. 



The four specimens of C auritum obtained by us diff^er from Pallas' s 

 description (Zoogr. Rosso-Asiat. ii. p. 87) in not having any white on the 

 outer webs of the first three primaries and on the under tail-feathers. The 

 same is noticeable also in specimens brought from Sichuaney by Pere David 

 to the Paris Museum. 



Measurements : — 





Length 

 (without tail) . 



Tail. 



Width. 



Wing. 



Gape. 



Tarsus. 



Middle 

 toe. 



d. 



in. 



. 17 



in. in. 



19-5 



in. in. 

 34 



in. 

 12 



in. 

 1-5 



in. 

 3-3 



in. 



2-2 



2. 



. 17-5 



16-197 



30-5-32 



11-8 



1-52 



31 



1-97 



198. Ithaginis geopproyi, J. Verr. 



Elliot^ Monograph of the Phasianidse, ii. pi. xxxi. 



We observed this scarce species, called by the natives " Sermun/' only 

 in the Kan-su mountains, where it principally inhabits the wooded districts, 

 and also ascends to the alpine regions. We did not obtain a single 

 specimen ourselves, but bought a skin from the Tanguts, who told us that 

 these birds, in spring, keep mostly to the edges of forests and about the 

 alpine bushes, and then feed on a particular kind of grass. In winter they 



