58 
coast, opposite the Fern Islands, in the last week of May of that 
year, and to have continued there as late as June 6th, and on June 
22nd, 1872, four, probably part of the same flock, are said to have 
been seen at Girvan in Ayrshire. 
The occurrence in Ireland of the two birds which we have here 
this evening, is of exceptional interest, as they are, I believe, the 
only ones of the species which have been seen in the British Isles 
this year, or indeed since 1872 ; and their occurence seems to prove 
that there has been another irruption, though on a small scale, in 
1876.t 
A good deal of speculation has naturally been indulged in as 
to the reason for the very remarkable invasions which I have 
described, but of all the conjectures that have been hazarded none 
appear to me so simple and reasonable as that put forward by 
Professor Newton. He is of opinion that these singular events are 
nothing more than the natural overflow of a very prolific species, 
and that, in all probability, they will be repeated. 
It only remains for me now to point out to you one or two 
interesting facts, as to the structure of this species. 
When the birds before you were killed, one of the party 
present, who was not an ornithologist, but was a gentleman with a 
good practical knowledge of birds, pronounced them to be ‘‘ some- 
thing between a partridge and a pigeon.” He had, by a happy hit, 
exactly expressed their zoological character. To show you this, it 
will not be necessary for me to give you a long technical description 
of the three birds ; I will confine myself to pointing out a few of the 
more prominent characters. 
If you will compare the Sand Grouse with the Turtle Dove 
(C. Turtur) on the one hand, and with the Red Grouse 
(L. Scoticus) which is very closely allied to the partridge, and 
very much resembles it in structure, on. the other, and they now 
stand between these two birds on the table, you will see that the 
Sand Grouse are intermediate in form between the two. The beak 
and head, and the general appearance of the birds, are more like 
those of the dove. So also are the short feet and legs, which, 
except in Pallas’ bird, are feathered only in front, as is the case in 
many pigeons. An examination of the skeleton shows the same 
relationship. Ihave here the breastbone of the Red Grouse, and 
if you will compare the breastbone of the Sand Grouse, which is 
here, with that of the Red Grouse on the one hand, and that of the 
t Since the paper was read I have been informed by Professor Newton, that a small 
flock of Pallas’ Sand Grouse were seen off the Island of Heligoland, in May or June, 
1876, and that one of them was procured. The two birds killed in Ireland were probably 
a remnant of this little flock. 
Li 
