PALLAS'S SAND-GROUSE. 403 



tlie limits of their range, and ^^ seeking pastures new." 

 This was by no means also the first occasion in which 

 examples of this species had been known to penetrate 

 so far to the westward of their normal range, for on 

 this point Mr. Newton writes as follows : — " It got its 

 foot in Europe as long ago as 1853, it may be longer ; 

 we must allow for the imperfection of our record. 

 In 1859 it comes again, the stress being now, with 

 time, severer: possibly more birds start, and the birds 

 that start reach a greater distance. In 1863, from the 

 same increasing pressure from within, still more come, 

 and come stiU further. If this notion be correct, unless 

 some physical change occurs in the Tartar steppes, which 

 may have the effect of relieving the pressure, another 

 outpouring may be safely predicted, and probably 

 the already thrice-found channel will be again used by 

 the emigrating population." It is not, however, Mr. 

 Newton's impression that the immense flock which in 

 1863 visited Europe, or the smaller flights which had 

 preceded it, started from Dauria, or the frontiers of 

 China. " On the contrary," he says, " a little reflexion 

 will show that it is of course far more probable that the 

 birth-place of the European invaders was the western 

 extremity of then* ordinary range — the country imme- 

 diately on the other side of the Caspian Sea, whence, as 

 I have said, the species was first obtained and described. 

 But this is quite far enough off to make such a Scythian 

 exodus in these days sufficiently remarkable. Some 

 4,000 geographical miles is a pretty long journey, even 

 for a bird blessed with such powerful organs of aerial 

 locomotion, as Syrrhaptes paradoxus.'' Whether or not 

 any portion of these large flocks would have located 

 themselves permanently on our shores, if encouraged 

 thereto by a protective rather than a destructive policy, 

 remams an open question. It is I know a favourite 

 belief with many that they would have done so, and 

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