THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC. 425 



203. Caccabis chukar. Gray. 



Gould^ Cent, of Birds, pi. Ixxii. 

 Jokta, Mongol. 



Is very common about Kalgan and Gu-bey-key, and has also been 

 obtained in Mongolia in the Muni-ul, Ala-shan, and Hara-narin-ul moun- 

 tains ; and a few birds were seen in the sand^^ plains of Gobi, w^here they 

 find their northern limit. 



In Kan-su it only occasionally occurs on the mountains, and is replaced 

 at Koko-nor and in Tibet by the succeeding species. 



This bird is partial to the woodless mountains, and does not appear to 

 have much need of water, as it usually inhabits localities which are quite 

 destitute of it, such as the Ala-shan plains. 



C chukar is lively and quick. The voice somewhat resembles that of 

 the Barn-door Fowl, and is to be heard every day throughout the year, 

 especially in spring, when it ascends to the tops of large rocks, and calls 

 there. 



In April the birds commence pairing ; and we found the first young 

 ones on the 29th of June ; they were about the size of a Quail. 



In suitable localities, where they are not molested, they are very tame, 

 and allow one to approach wdthin a few paces, even in quite open places ; 

 and when disturbed they rely more upon their legs than upon their wings, 

 and take to the latter only in extreme cases. 



Its flight is strong and fast, but never of long duration, usually only 

 from one rock to another. 



In comparing Chinese specimens of C. chuhar with Himalayan birds, 

 Mr. Swinhoe found (P. Z. S. Lond. 1871, p. 400) that the former differ from 

 the latter by their reddish upper parts of the body ; and on these grounds 

 the English ornithologist founded the var. pulescens. 



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