tii mm w i in
Lerwa nivicola, Hodgson.
Vernacular Names —[Larwa (Bhutia) Nepal; Jungooria, Kit maun ; Quoirmoonal,
Koor-moonal, Garhwdl, &>c. ƒ Golabi, Bhair, Ter-tetur, Busahir and
other Hill States ; Barf-ka-tetur, Kulltt.]
ROM the western boundaries of Bhutan at any rate,
(and it probably occurs in Bhutan itself and further
east), to central, if not western, Kashmir, the Snow
Partridge is to be met with in suitable localities.
It is not rare (although, as everywhere else, it is
very locally distributed) in Sikhim, where Blanford
notes that it was abundant on the bare slopes of the
hills near Yeomatong.
In Nepal again, Hodgson tells us that it is common in all the
northern hills. In Kumaun and British Garhwal I have seen and
shot many. Further west, Wilson writes to me : " I have
observed them most numerous up the valleys of the large
streams which enter the Ganges (Bhagirathi) between Sukhi
and Makwa, but I have not met with them about Gangotri.
Crossing from Sukhi by the Chyuh and Bamasur Passes to
Jumnotri they are common, and in the higher parts of Barassu.
They seem rather scarce in Kunawar (Busahir), and I did not
meet with them in Thibet or any where beyond the snow."
They are to be found, however, and in places very abundantly,
all along the snowy ranges north and south of Busahir ; and
Stoliczka says, " they are not uncommon along the
Baralatsi range, and they occur in Spiti, but I have not noticed
them further north in Rupshu. They abound in Northwestern
Kullu during the winter, when they descend from the
snowy range somewhat lower down."
I have shot them close to the Rohtang and in the high hills
behind Dharmsala. North of Chamba again, there are ranges
where they abound ; and Adams tells us that they are " occasionally
seen on the highest mountains forming the northern
boundary of the vale of Kashmir."
Though thus extending in the Himalayas throughout a length
of at least one thousand miles, it is but a narrow zone that, as
a rule, they occupy. Even in winter they rarely, if ever, descend
below an elevation of 7,000 feet, and their habitat is only the