Cassell's book of birds; vol. 3Brehm, Alfred Edmund
Science
Cassell's book of birds; vol. 3
Brehm, Alfred Edmund
Birds
The _Tetraogallus Himalayensis_ "is confined," says "Mountaineer,"
"exclusively to the snowy mountain ranges, or the large spurs jutting
from them which are elevated above the limits of forest, but is driven in
winter to perform one, and in some places two, annual migrations to the
middle regions. In summer it is only seen near the limits of vegetation.
In Kunawur it is common at all seasons, from Cheenee upwards; but on the
Gangetic hills, from June till August, however much a person wanders
about on the highest accessible places, but few are met with, and I have
no doubt whatever but that nearly all such as at other seasons frequent
this part retire across the snow into Chinese Tartary to breed. About the
beginning of September these birds are first seen near the tops of the
higher grassy ridges jutting from the snow, and the green slopes above
and about the limits of forests. After the first general and severe fall
of snow they come down in numbers on to some of the bare exposed hills in
the forest regions, and remain there till the end of March. This partial
migration is probably made in the night after the fall of snow, as I have
invariably found them in their winter quarters early next morning. It
requires a deep fall of snow to drive them down, and in some mild winters,
except a few odd birds, they do not come at all. The birds on each
respective hill seem to have a particular spot for their winter resort,
which they return to every year the migration is made. The Snow Pheasant
is gregarious, congregating in packs, sometimes to the number of twenty
or thirty, but in general not more than from five to ten, several packs
inhabiting the same hill. In summer the few which remain on our side are
found in single pairs generally; but across the snow, where the great body
migrate, I almost always, even then, found several together. They seldom
leave the hill on which they are located, but fly backwards and forwards
when disturbed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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