8o6 



SAND-GROUSE 



five other species of Pterodes, of which however only one, P. fasciatus, 

 is peculiar to Asia, while the others inhabit Africa as well, and all 

 the remaining species belong to the Ethiopian Region — one, P. 

 2)ersonatus, being peculiar to Madagascar, and four occurring in or 

 on the borders of Cape Colony. 



Syrrhaptei, though in general appearance resembling Pterodes, 

 has a conformation of foot quite unique among birds, the three 

 anterior toes being encased in a common " podotheca," Avhich is 

 covered to the claws with hairy feathers, so as to look much like 



Syrrhaptes paradoxus. (From the Prospectus of Yarrell's British Birds, ed. 4.) 



a fingerless glove, while the hind toe is wanting. The two species 

 of Syrrhaptes are *S'. tihetaniis — the largest Sand-Grouse known — 

 inhabiting the country whence its trivial name is derived, and ^S*. 

 paradoxus, ranging from Northern China across Central Asia to 

 the confines of Europe, which it occasionally, and in a marvellous 

 manner, invades, as has been already mentioned (Migration, p. 

 571). Here the subject, which has a large literature of its own,^ 

 must be treated very concisely. Hitherto known only as an 

 inhabitant of the Tartar steppes, a single example was obtained at 



^ Dr. Leverkiihn has been at great pains to compile a bibliography of Syrrhaptes 

 wliich will be found in the Monatsschrift des Dcutschcn Verein zum Schutzc der 

 Vocjelwdt for 1888-92. 



