442 



in April, at not much more than 4000 feet above the sea, and thence saw it here and there 

 throughout the country, by no means keeping always to the highest elevations ; for I saw many 

 in June at a place barely 5000 feet above the sea-level. Indeed, to the north they appeared to 

 range higher than to the south, keeping to the higher parts of the Elburz for instance;" to 

 which Major St. John adds: — it "is very common in Western Persia in suitable localities, and 

 keeps in immense flocks. I have never seen it in the lower valleys. P. alpinus is certainly much 

 less common. The only time I have seen it was when the specimen in the collection was obtained 

 on the Kotal-Doktar pass, between Bushire and Shiraz, 4000 feet above the sea." 



SevertzofF says (Turk. Jevotnie, p. 63) that it is resident throughout Turkestan, being met 

 with during the summer at an altitude of from 8000 to 14,000 feet, but in winter is found lower 

 down. In India, Dr. Jerdon writes, it is "found in the Himalayas in flocks near the snows, 

 some of them migrating with the Jackdaws to the plains of the Punjab in winter;" and Dr. Leith 

 Adams says that it abounds in Kashmir. It is recorded from South-east Siberia by Dr. Radde 

 and Dr. Dybowski, the former of whom states that he observed it when ascending the Sochondo, 

 as well as near the Munko-Sardik above the tree-growth, and in the latter mountains even as 

 high as the glaciers; and Dr. Dybowski writes (J. f. 0. 1868, p. 332) that it is resident in Dauria, 

 and in some localities (as, for instance, at Kira, Bukukun, and Altan) it builds on the roofs of 

 dwelling-houses and in the churches. He says that the natives hold this bird in great esteem, 

 and believe that where it is found no deaths can occur from bites of mad dogs. Should a person 

 be bitten by a mad dog, he goes to where the Choughs are found ; and should they meet him 

 flying round and uttering their loud cry, it is believed that he will recover, but if not, then he 

 will die. Dr. Dybowski was informed at Kira that since the birds settled and commenced to 

 breed there no one had been bitten by a mad dog. In some notes communicated by Dr. Dybowski 

 to Mr. Taczanowski it is stated (J. f. O. 1872, p. 454) that it is found in the steppes near Lake 

 Kosogol, and breeds in the rocks near the Onon river, where he observed them in March carrying 

 building-materials for their nests. 



Mr. Swinhoe states that it inhabits North China, and has been procured near Tientsin ; and 

 Pere David says that it is common and resident in all the high mountains of North China and in 

 Mongolia. But I do not find it recorded from Japan. According to Mr. Swinhoe (Ibis, 1866, 

 p. 131) there is a specimen in the India Museum labelled as being from Java; but further proof 

 as to its occurrence there appears to be wanting. It does not occur in the Nearctic Region. 



In its habits the Chough, like the Jackdaw and the Rook, is gregarious ; and even during 

 the breeding-season it forms small colonies. It is essentially a rock-frequenting bird, and breeds 

 in the rocks, placing its nest in some deep fissure or cave, generally in an inaccessible position ; 

 but sometimes, as above recorded by Dr. Dybowski, it breeds in church-towers and even in the 

 roofs of dwelling-houses. It is a resident wherever it is found, only moving somewhat lower 

 down the mountains in the winter season, probably shifting its quarters to a more suitable place 

 for obtaining food. It feeds on small insects of various kinds, grubs, beetles, &c, and to some 

 extent on grain. Some authors affirm that it feeds on carrion ; but I find no confirmation of this 

 statement. It searches for its food in the pastures and amongst the rocks, and walks about with 

 ease after the manner of the Rook or Jackdaw. Its flight is irregular, something like that of 

 the Jackdaw ; and it is said to indulge not unfrequently in gambols and evolutions of various 



