1 82 ■ RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 



some in the plains of Haifa grass, and if there be a bare 

 place of an acre or two near to tents, it is a likely haunt for 

 them. At a place of that kind at Gow I saw a flock of 

 these Sandgrouse and two tame Pigeons, apparently frater- 

 nising together very amicably.* It surprised me though I 

 knew their affinity. 



The belly of a hen I shot on the 9th of March was entirely 

 black. I do not think it was the breeding plumage. 



127. Senegal Sand-Grouse, Pterodcs sencgallns (Linn.) 

 Symboloe Physicoe, pi. XV. " Gutta." 



The Sand-Grouse at Gebel Silsilis were, I believe, all of 

 this species, but they were so shy that we only obtained 

 two. At Radamr near Keneh I shot five, and we obtained 

 a few more when we returned to Gow, where we had not 

 observed this species in coming up. The furthest north 

 that we saw them on the river was at Benisouef, but they 

 come down to the Faioum, where I was at no loss to 

 recognise one fine flock by their yellow colour. The note 

 is also different : they generally say " zvJiccp gutta',' and the 

 Singed Sand-Grouse I believe only say ^' gutta!' One 

 generally saw them early in the morning, flying high up 

 and very wild. They are said to pass the day in the desert, 

 going down to the river to drink in the early morning and 

 in the evening. No doubt they do drink a great deal : 

 some we killed at Gow had as much as a table-spoonful of 

 water in their crops. I think it probable that they are 

 gregarious all the year round, though I am ignorant of 

 their habits after the hatching season. 



* I possess a Ruff which was shot in Shetland while feeding with 

 some tame Pigeons. The Turnstone has been shot in England in the 

 same companionship (cf. Zoologist, 2652). 



