472 hetlei's, Extracts fruin Correspundence, Notices, S\C. 



in the singular structure of the feet*, it wants the acuminated 

 terminations of the primaries. 



To the Editor of The Ibis. 



Clenchwharton, near Lynn, Norfolk, 

 Sept. 29th, 1859. 



Sir, — Early in the month of July last, a very beautiful spe- 

 cimen of Pallas's Sand-grouse {Syrrhaptes paradoxus) was shot 

 in the parish of Walpole St. Peter^s, in this county (Norfolk), 

 about two miles from the Wash. T should have made you ac- 

 quainted with this interesting occurrence before, but have been 

 waiting to gather all the information I could concerning the 

 capture of this rare and curious bird. I regret to say I am un- 

 able to add any particulars of importance, except that, though 

 solitary when shot, at least one other, apparently of the same 

 species, was observed about the same time in the neighbourhood, 

 but was pursued without success. The bird was skinned before 

 I had an opportunity of seeing it, and though by a very unskil- 

 ful hand, fortunately no material damage was done to it. I at 

 once applied in order to ascertain whether the carcase had been 

 preserved or examined, but I found that the operator's interest 

 had not extended beyond the removal of the skin ; this is much 

 to be regretted. We must, however, congratulate ourselves 

 upon our good fortune in securing the bird at all, considering it 

 was shot by a labouring youth wholly unacquainted with its 

 value, and who was quite as likely to have plucked and eaten, 

 or thrown the prize away (the fate of many a valuable specimen), 

 as to have placed it in the hands of the Rev. R. Hankinson, to 

 whom the Lynn Museum is indebted for this most interesting 

 specimen, beautifully mounted by Mr. Leadbeater of Brewer 

 Street. There is reason to believe our bird to be a male adult, 

 in perfect plumage. I believe this species has not before been 

 taken in this country, or even in Europe ; upon this point you 

 will be able to inform your readers. 



It cannot be too strongly impressed upon those into whose 



* Pedes maxime insoliti, tridactyli; digitis brevissimis, coalitis, solo 

 apice et unguibus distinctis, brevibus, usque fere ad ungues plumosis : 

 unde planta triloba, latiuscula, corneis papillis imbricata. — Pallas. 



