STRKHAPTES. — PfEROCLIDURUS. / O 



The surface-markings vary considerably in colour and character, 

 and are of much service for the purpose of identification. 



The eggs of the Sand-Grouse are curiously like those of the 

 Nightjars both in shape and coloration. 



Getuis SYRRHAPTES, nri<jer. 



Syrrhaptes paradoxus (Pctll.). 



Sjnhaptes paradoxus, Neirton, P. Z. 8. 1861, p. 397, pi. xxxix. fig. 1 : 

 UreD.'^er, Birds F.ur. vii. p. 75 (1870); Seebohm, Brit. Birds, ii. 

 p. 419, pi. 20 (1884) ; Grant, Cat. Birds B. M. xxii. p. 2 (1893) ; 

 iSec/ju/im, Ey,/s of Brit. Birds, p. IGO. pi. 47. tigs. 10, 12 (1896) ; 

 Shurpe, Hand-l. i. p. 50 (1899). 



The eggs of Pallas's Three- toed Sand-Grouse are of a pale stone- 

 colour. The surface-markings, consisting of specks, spots and 

 blotches of yellowish brown, are evenly distributed over the shell. 

 Seven examples measure from I'oS to 1-7 in length, and from I'lo 

 to l'2o in breadth. 



2. Laid in confinement (Zool. Gardens, P. L. Sclater, Esq. [P.]. 



Amsterdam). 

 5. Altai xMuuntains, May (C. A. Tancre). Seebohm Coll. 



Syrrhaptes tibetanus, Gould. 



(Plate VIII. fig. 13.) 



Syrrhaptes tibetanus, Hn7ne Sf Marsh. Gmne Birds hid. i. p. 43 (1879) : 

 Grant, Cat. Birds B. M. xxii. p. 5 (1893) ; Oates, Game Birds hid. 

 i. p. 18 (1898) ; Sharpe, Hand-l. i. p. 50 (1899). 



The eggs of the Tibetan Three-toed Sand-Grouse in the Collection 

 are of a pale creamy-buff colour. Both the shell-markings and the 

 surface-markings are small, and the latter consist entirely of spots 

 of dull reddish brown, evenly distributed over the whole shell. 

 Two examples measure respectively: 1-9 by 1-37; 2 by 1'33. 



2. Pamir, C. Asia. St. G. Littledale, Esq. [P.]. 



Genus PTEROCLIDURUS, Bp. 



Pteroclidurus alchatus {Linn.). 



(Plate YIIL fig. 11.) 



Pterocles alchata, Hume l*(- Marsh. Game Birds hid. i. p. 77 (1879). 

 Pterochirus alchata, Grant, Cat. Birds B. M. xxii. p. 7 (1893) ; Oates, 



Game Birds hid. i. p. 22 (1^98). 

 Pteroclidurus alchatus, Hharpe, Hand-l. i. p. 50 (1899). 



The egg of the Eastern Pin-tailed Sand-Grouse in the Col- 

 lection does not resemble the eggs of P. pijrenaifnx so closely as 

 might be expected. It is of a creamy-buff colour, and the surface- 

 markings, which consist of small specks, spots and smudges of 



