P alias's Sand- Grouse in 1863. 199 



given. Dr. F. B. de Montessus, on authority of M. Rossignol, 

 ' Revue de Zoologie/ p. 403. 



43. Chalon-sur-Saone, 4" 50' E. A male killed, 2nd June, 

 in the neighbourhood, from a flock of eight, which was seen 

 again on the 18th of the same month. Dr. F. B. de Montessus, 

 R. Z. p. 358 and pp. 393-404. 



In recording the occurrence of the bird last mentioned, M. de 

 Montessus takes the opportunity of dwelling at some length on 

 the history of the species, and his paper is illustrated by two 

 plates representing both sexes, with enlarged figures of the head 

 and foot. Unfortunately, not having had the advantage of seeing 

 the 'Ibis,^ he falls into several mistakes as regards previous 

 occurrences of Syrrhaptes in Europe. 



44. Velzen, 4° 37' E. A female taken alive about the 9th 

 June, and sent to the Gardens of the Zoological Society of Am- 

 sterdam. Heer J. P. van Wickevport Crommelin, N. T. D. p. 222. 



45. Zandvoort, 4° 32' E. Numerous bands showed them- 

 selves, in the beginning of May, on the dunes here, which it will 

 be remembered were frequented also by a pair of these birds in 

 the summer of 1859, and where it is even asserted that in that 

 year two eggs were discovered (N. T. D. p. 223). In 1863, 

 Heer Crommelin states that these birds " vivaient ordinairement 

 en petites families de sia \_qu. six ?] a quatorze individus, qui se 

 reunissaient parfois en bandes de trente a cinquante sujets.^' He 

 goes on to say, " Cependant, peu de temps apres I'arrivee de ces 

 gallinaces on fit lever une paire, qui se senait \_qu. tenait ?] 

 pres d^un nid ou plutot d'un creux dans le sable, ou se trou- 

 vaient deux oeufs : ceux-ci etaient de la grosseur de ceux de la 

 tourterelle, niais un peu plus alonges et presque d'egale epaisseur 

 aux deux bouts; la couleur etait d'un cendre clair un peu 

 nuance de roussatre, avec des todies [^w. taches ?] brunes peu 

 distinctes. On pla9a de suite des lacets afin d^attraper les 

 oiseaux ; cependant on n^y reussit pas, puisqu'ils abandon- 

 nerent les objets de leur plus tendre affection. * * Apres la 

 decouverte de ces oeufs dans les dunes des environs d'Harlem, on 

 n'y a plus remarque d^heteroclite, qui seniblait s'occuper des 

 soins de la reproduction. Toutefois on pretend avoir trouve dans 



