



Ophrysia superciliosa, J. E. Gray. 



Vernacular Names.— [ 



HIS is probably the least known of all our Indian 

 Game Birds. 



It is as yet only known to occur occasionally, and 

 during the cold season, in the neighbourhood of 

 Mussooree, and again in the neighbourhood of Naini 

 Tal. 



But it is a bird of singularly retiring habits, can 

 scarcely be induced to show itself unless pressed by a dog, 

 and occurs only at a season when our hill stations are nearly 

 deserted, and I dare say that it will prove to be a migrant 

 (possibly only in the colder winters) to the lower and outer 

 ranges of the Himalayas, at elevations of from five to eight 

 thousand feet, everywhere eastwards of Mussooree. 



Where it comes from, it is impossible to say, but I should 

 conjecture from the better-wooded, south-eastern portions of 

 Chinese Tibet. 



The first known specimens of this species were figured in 

 1846 in the first part of the Earl of Derby's " Knowsley Mena- 

 gerie," their origin being then unknown. 



In November 1865, poor Kenneth Mackinnon, then a boy, shot 

 a pair in a hollow between Budraj and Benog, behind Mussoo- 

 ree (elevation about 6,000 feet). One of these was given to 

 Colonel L'Estrange, and Blyth exhibited it at the Zoological 

 Society on the 8th May 1867. 



In November 1867, a party, or perhaps several parties, estab- 

 lished themselves at Jerepani, near Captain Hutton's house 

 (elevation 5,500 feet), and remained until the summer of 1868. 

 Five specimens were procured. 



In December 1876, Major G. Carwithen, 25th Regiment, 

 K. O. B., shot a specimen on the eastern slopes of Sher-ka- 

 danda (elevation 7,000 feet), close to Naini Tal. I know of no 

 other specimens having been obtained. 



Of these ten specimens, two are in the Derby, one in the 

 British, five in my own Museum ; one is in the collection of the 



14 



