64 GAME BIRDS OF INDIA. 



highest accessible places, but few are met with, and I have no 

 doubt whatever, but that nearly all which at • other seasons fre- 

 quent this part, retire across the snow into Chinese Tartary to 

 breed. About the beginning of September they are first seen 

 near the tops of the higher grassy ridges jutting from the snow, 

 and the green slopes above and about the limits of forest. After 

 the first general and severe fall of snow they come down in num- 

 bers on to some of the bare exposed hills in the forest regions, 

 and remain there till the end of March. This partial migration 

 is probably made in the night after the fall of snow, as I have 

 invariably found* them in their winter quarters early the next 

 morning. It requires a deep fall to drive them down, and some 

 mild winters, except a few odd birds, they do not come at all. 

 The birds on each respective hill seem to have a particular spot 

 for their winter resort, which they return to every year the migra- 

 tion is made. 



" The Snow-pheasant is gregarious, congregating in packs, some- 

 times to the number of 20 or 30, but in general, not more than 

 from 5 to 10 ; several packs inhabiting the same hill. In summer 

 the few which remain on our side are found in single pairs gene- 

 rally, but across the snow where the great body migrate, I almost 

 always, even then, found several together. They seldom leave 

 the hill on which they are located, but fly backwards and for- 

 wards when disturbed. The Ring-tailed Eagle is an inveterate 

 annoyer of these birds ; inhabiting such exposed situations 

 where there is nothing to conceal so large a bird from his sight, 

 as he sails along the hill side above them, they at once arrest 

 his attention, and are driven backwards and forwards by this 

 unrelenting tormentor all day long. On the appearance of one of 

 these birds, which fortunately for them are not very numerous, 

 they seldom wait till he makes a stoop, but on his making a wheel 

 near the spot where they are, immediately fly off to another quarter 

 of the hill, the eagle never flies after or attacks them on the wing ; 

 so that though he allows them little quietude while near their 

 resort, he only occasionally succeeds in securing one. 



"The Jer-moonal never enters forest or jungle, and avoids spots 

 where the grass is long, or where there is underwood of any kind. 



