f 



1. 



Lerwa nivicola, Hodgson. 



Vernacular XTa&lOS- — [Larwa (Bhutia) Nepal ; Jungooria, Kumaun ; Quoir- 

 moonal, Koor-moonal, Garhwdl, &>c. ; Golabi, Bhair, Ter-tetur, Busahir and 

 other Hill States ; Barf-ka-tetur, Jfullu.] 



ROM the western boundaries of Bhutan at any rate, 

 (and it probably occurs in Bhutan itself and further 

 east), to central, if not western, Kashmir, the Snow 

 Partridge is to be met with in suitable localities. 



It is not rare (although, as everywhere else, it is 

 very locally distributed) in Sikhim, where Blanford 

 ?*? notes that it was abundant on the bare slopes of the 

 hills near Yeomatong. 



In Nepal again, Hodgson tells us that it is common in all the 

 northern hills. In Kumaun and British Garhwdl I have seen and 

 shot many. Further west, Wilson writes to me : " I have 

 observed them most numerous up the valleys of the large 

 streams which enter the Ganges (Bhagirathi) between Sukhi 

 and Makwa, but I have not met with them about Gangotri. 

 Crossing from Sukhi by the Chyuh and Bamasur Passes to 

 Jumnotri they are common, and in the higher parts of Barassu. 

 They seem rather scarce in Kunawar (Busahir), and I did not 

 meet with them in Thibet or any where beyond the snow." 



They are to be found, however, and in places very abundantly, 

 all along the snowy ranges north and south of Busahir ; and 

 Stoliczka says, "they are not uncommon along the 

 Baralatsi range, and they occur in Spiti, but I have not noticed 

 them further north in Rupshu. They abound in North- 

 Western Kullu during the winter, when they descend from the 

 snowy range somewhat lower down." 



I have shot them close to the Rohtang and in the high hills 

 behind Dharmsala. North of Chamba again, there are ranges 

 where they abound ; and Adams tells us that they are " occa- 

 sionally seen on the highest mountains forming the northern 

 boundary of the vale of Kashmir." 



Though thus extending in the Himalayas throughout a length 

 of at least one thousand miles, it is but a narrow zone that, as 

 a rule, they occupy. Even in winter they rarely, if ever, descend 

 below an elevation of 7,000 feet, and their habitat is only the 



