122 FAUNA AND FLORA OF PALESTINE. 



FAMILY, PTEROCLID.E. 



275. Ptcrocles arenarius. (Pall. Nov. Com. Petrop. xi.x., p. 418.) 

 Black-bellied Sand Grouse. Arab. Iki;, Khata {generic). 



This laro-e Sand Grouse inhabits the sandy wastes to the north-east 

 and south of Palestine ; more plentiful towards the north, in the Lejah, 

 where we obtained it. I also met with it in Moab. 



It inhabits Spain, the northern deserts of Africa, North Arabia, 

 Persia, and the southern deserts of Central Asia as far as Scinde. 



276. Ptcrocles alchata. (Linn. Syst. Nat. i., p. 276.) Pintail 

 Sand Grouse. 



In all the desert regions round Palestine ; more common in the south, 

 near Beersheba. 



The Pintail Sand Grouse inhabits Spain, North Africa, Arabia, and 

 thence to the Punjab and Scinde. 



277. Pterocles senegalus. (Linn. Syst. Nat. i., p. 277 = Buff. 

 PI. Enl. 130.) Senegal Sand Grouse. 



The Senegal Sand Grouse is the most universally distributed on all 

 sides of Palestine, and the only one which actually breeds in the Jordan 

 valley. It is scattered all over the highlands of Moab, where we 

 obtained many specimens in spring. 



This bird, of which P. guttatus (Licht.) is the female, is found in 

 North-east Africa, Arabia, and the deserts west of the Tigris. 



278. Pterocles coronatus. Licht. Verz. Doubl., p. 65. Crowned 

 Sand Grouse. 



Very rare, but found in the Syrian desert. 



It inhabits the Sahara, North-east Africa, Arabia, and Syria. 



279. Pterocles exustus. Temm. PI. Col. 359, 360. Singed Sand 

 Grouse. 



This Sand Grouse is very common in the southern deserts and on the 

 east of Jordan. It is amazingly abundant in the Syrian desert between 

 Damascus and Palmyra 



