THE THIBETAN SNOW-COCK. 277 



a peculiar whistle something like that of a Snipe ; (J?) when 

 alighting it calls several times in succession, sounding like 

 click, click, click; (c) when settling down on the ground it 

 makes a noise which sounds in this way — Goooo, G 00000, 

 several times repeated ; and (d) when collecting its frightened 

 young it whistles in a manner which is quite distinct from the 

 above-mentioned sound. 



" In winter they keep in small flocks up to fifteen individuals; 

 and in April, or even earlier, they commence pairing. 



" The number of young belonging to a nest varies from five 

 to ten ; and we found young ones early in August. They 

 were very small, about the size of a Quail ; whilst others were 

 quite as a large as their parents. 



"We did not succeed in finding any eggs: only on one 

 occasion my companion discovered a nest with some broken 

 shells in it, which evidently belonged to the present species ; 

 and according to the fragments, the eggs are larger than those 

 of the common hen, of a dirty white shaded with green, and 

 marked on the smaller end with some blackish brown spots. 



" Both parent birds accompany the brood. Whilst the young 

 are small they crouch on the approach of danger, or try to 

 hide themselves between the loose stones, whilst the old ones 

 keep on running within about twenty paces from the sports- 

 man ; but when they are full grown they try to escape by 

 running, and follow the cock and hen which are leading the 

 whole flock. When much pressed, however, they fly, and do 

 not alight on the ground again until they have crossed a ravine 

 or valley. 



"These birds are very wild, and when alone the old birds 

 do not allow themselves to be approached within a hundred 

 paces. They hide themselves between stones, and usually 

 spring up and take to flight, or else try to run, which they 

 do so fast that a man cannot catch them. 



" We noticed that when they are approached from the bottom 

 of a hill they commence running, but if from the top they at 

 once get up. 



" When settling on the ground they shake their tails several 

 times, just as our Willow Grouse do. 



" Throughout August, and even in the earlier part of Sep- 

 tember, this species was moulting. The Tanguts informed us 

 that the birds got very fat in the autumn, which, however, we 

 did not observe in those killed at the above season in Tibet." 



I HAVE unfortunately no information as to the nidification of 

 this species. 



The following are dimensions recorded in the flesh of six 

 birds, three of each sex only, and therefore probably by no 



