TETRAOGALLUS.
Birds of Capercailzie size, with a tarsal spur in male ; frequent rocky districts at high elevations, chiefly above tree limit ; nest of dried plants under overhanging rocks ; eggs dull ochreous with an oily green tinge, spotted and blotched with dull dark red.
Tetraogallus caucasicus (Pallas). SNOW PARTRIDGE. Above black, vermiculated buff, with patches of cinnamon and pale buff on outer webs of wing coverts and scapulars ; primaries white with brown tips ; hind neck brown, not barred ; crown and nape brownish grey ; foreneck and sides of neck white ; beneath, chest huffy grey, rest of underparts barred black and chestnut, and similarly streaked on flanks.
Bill brownish horn, darker at base. Bare skin at base of bill, eye-rim, and bare stripe behind eye yellowish. Legs and feet orange yellow. Wing 265-28o (H.). and young males have no spur on tarsus.
Resident.—N. Caucasus.