472 
Mr. Douglas Carruthers on the 
know of the good food that is to be obtained there at an 
early date, and migrate thither from the more northerly and 
foodless steppes. 
144. Syrrhaptes paradoxus, 
Syrrhaptes paradoxus Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. B. xxii. p. 2. 
c? . Bokhara. 4 Dec., 1907. No. 212. 
This species is found in immense numbers, at certain 
seasons, on the low steppes. It does not appear to frequent 
the higher steppe-valleys, like Pterocles arenarius . 
145. Phasianus zerafshanicus. (Plate VIII.) 
Phasianus zerafshanicus Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. B. xxii. 
p. 326. 
S . Bokhara. 18 May, 1908. No. 496. 
c?. „ 4 June, 1908. No. 518. 
S . Samarkand. 11 Oct., 1907. No. 67. 
S . Bokhara. 16 Nov., 1907. Nos. 161, 163, 164. 
? . „ 16 Nov., 1907. No. 162. 
The excellent coloured figure from which the accompanying 
plate (PI. VIII.) is taken was drawn by Major Jones, to 
whofh my best thanks are due. 
This Pheasant, peculiar to the self-contained basin of the 
Zarafschan River, is found wherever there is jungle, both in 
the cultivated area and in the tamarisk swamps. It is 
most numerous on the lowest portion of the river, especially 
where it forms small lakes and swamps in the Bokharan 
deserts. It ranges as far east as Samarkand at 2000 ft. 
The Zarafschan is a self-contained basin, and the Pheasants 
are confined to this river-valley, not being able to wander 
and mix with those of the Oxus, or the Syr Daria Valleys. 
Although the Zarafschan approaches to within thirty or 
forty miles of the Oxus, yet those thirty miles form an 
impassable barrier of barren sand-dunes. 
In May and June these birds lose most of the vinous 
tinge on the breast and abdomen, and the upper parts 
become very pale and f washed out/ the margins to the 
feathers being pale buff instead of a rich golden copper 
colour. 
