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Show 676 MR. H. E. DRESSER ON A N E W TETRAOGALLUS. [June 20, rest of the upper parts as in Tetraogallas caucasicus; but instead of the general tinge of colour being clear dark grey, it is lighter buffy grey ; wings as in Tetraogallus caspius, but the larger wing-coverts are rather bluer and less vermiculated on the basal portion; tail as in Tetraogallus caucasicus, but rather paler ; forehead, a streak over the eye, sides of head and neck creamy white, the portion below the eye pale blue-grey, connected with which is a dull darker blue-grey broad stripe down the side of the neck ; entire lower throat and upper breast blue grey, the feathers tipped with ashy buff, this band on the sides of the neck becoming ashy buff and merging into the hind neck ; fore part of the band irregularly but boldly spotted with black; rest of the breast to the abdomen ashy buff finely vermiculated with blackish grey, all the feathers dove blue on the concealed basal portion ; centre of the abdomen sooty slate, gradually fading into dull buff on the crissum and to creamy white on the under tail-coverts; flank-feathers clear blue-grey on the centre, with a chestnut stripe on each side, and an outside margin of black, some of the feathers on the upper flanks vermiculated like the breast, and those on the lower flanks huffy ash vermiculated with blackish grey and margined with buffy chestnut; bill yellowish horn, paler at the base, nostrils orange-red ; bare space round the eye and patch below the eye brilliant Indian yellow ; iris dark brown ; legs rich orange-red, claws dark horn. Total length about 26 inches; culmen 1*7, wing 11*8, tail 8 0 , tarsus 2*6. Adult female (Giawi-keuy, 27th April). Differs from the male in being rather smaller in size and duller in colour; the crown is slightly marked with light huff and dark grey ; the stripe on each side of the neck and the band on the lower throat are more buff in tinge, the latter vermiculated with grey, and both mottled with black; soft parts as in the male, but rather duller, the bare patch behind the eye smaller in extent; and the spur on the back of the tarsus is wanting. Total length 22^-23 inches, culmen 1*4, wing 10*7, tail 7*2, tarsus 2*25. Mr. Danford gives me the following information respecting the range of the present species. " This bird inhabits the high ranges of the Bulgardagh and Ala-dagh in the Eastern Taurus, and probably extends westwards to the Gok mountains near Adalia, and northward and eastward hy the Antitaurus and Kermes Dagh. Ou Argseus, the highest mountain of the country, it certainly does not occur. " It is strictly an Alpine bird living amongst rocks and snow, and rarely descends, even in mid winter, below the limit of the tree-growth, which may generally be taken as being at an elevation of about 6000 feet. It is very shy and wary. It pairs early in the year, and in favourable situations nests about the middle of April." I trust ere long to issue a figure of this Snow-Partridge in the ' Birds of Europe;' and Mr. Danford promises to furnish me with more details as to its habits &c. ere then. Mr. Danford was fortunate enough to obtain the eggs of this |
