26o PALLAS'S SAND GROUSE. 



in the middle of a meadow in the long grass. In this 

 latter situation I found a nest last year on the 16th 

 June, containing nine eggs which were slightly in- 

 cubated. The nest resembled a Partridge's : a slight 

 hollow in the ground lined with a few bits of grass 

 and leaves. The eggs were a warm yellow in ground 

 colour, with spots and small blotches of rich dark 

 olive green. A week later a second clutch of ten 

 found in a corn field, quite fresh, was brought me by 

 a keeper. These were quite unlike the first clutch, 

 the ground colour being creamy yellow, boldly blotched 

 with large and rich dark-brown markings, and with a 

 few spots of the same colour. 



The Quail in appearance is not unlike a small Par- 

 tridge. The general colour is huffish brown, barred 

 with dark and light brown on the upper parts, and 

 marked with pale streaks. The throat is very dark, 

 and the under parts become almost white towards the 

 rump. 



Rarer birds of the Family Phasianidce : — 

 PALLAS'S SAND GROUSE. 



SYRRHAPTES PARADOXUS. 



Genus Syrrhaptes. 



An accidental visitor of rare occurrence. It belongs 

 to Central Asia. In 1863 an extraordinary immigra- 

 tion took place, the new comers numbering some 

 thousands, and landing in the eastern counties, they 

 soon spread all over the island. They were however 

 soon exterminated. Another immigration occurred in 

 1883. 



