422 THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC„ 



descend to the middle and low mountain-ranges, where they form small 

 companies, and pass the night on trees, like Crossoptilon auritum. 



The note of the present species consists of a long, perfectly clear, but 

 not loud whistle. 



The Kan-su mountains appear to form the northern boundary of 

 its geographical distribution. 



199. Perdtx barbata, J. Verr. Kuropatka horadataya. 



Gould^ Birds of Asia^ part xx. pi. 



We found this Partridge throughout the country traversed by us, from 

 Kiachta and Dolon-nor to the sources of Yang-tsi-kiang, in Tibet, avoiding 

 only the deserts, siich as Gobi and the sandy Ala-shan plains. It is very 

 common in S.E. Mongolia, where it principally inhabits the hills and bush- 

 covered mountains, but does not appear to occur in large forests. The 

 Hoang-ho valley also abounds with it ; and therefore it cannot be 

 considered to be a dweller in the mountains, although it prefers hilly 

 localities. It is of local occurrence in Kan-su, and has not been observed 

 by us at all in the Koko-nor steppes ; whilst on the southern slope of 

 the Koko-nor mountains it was found to be very common. 



In Tsaidam it inhabits the dry parts ; and in Northern Tibet I once 

 noticed a small flock on the banks of the river Muru-us. 



In its habits, mode of life, and voice it does not differ from its European 

 congener. In spring, about the end of March, the flocks separate into 

 pairs ; but the eggs are laid very late, usually not before the beginning of 

 June. We found some young ones at Muni-ul on the 28th of June. The 

 nest is constructed on the ground ; and the number of eggs ranges from 

 thirteen to eighteen ; these latter do not difi^er, either in size or colour, from 

 our common species. 



