TETRAONTD^. 277 



and belly, white, with a yellowish tinge ; each feather with 

 an arrow-shaped brown spot near the point. 



Discovered to th.e north of Latakoo, in grassy valleys, feeding on 

 seeds and small insects. Like the colonial species, T. Hottentotus , they 

 seem difficult to flush a second time, and are never to be found in any 

 numbers. Mr. Ayres has procured it in Natal. 



The Sub-Family, PTEROCLIN-ffil, or Sand- 

 Grouse, 



have the bill short, with the cultnen curved to the tip, and 

 the sides compressed ; the wings and tail lengthened and 

 pointed ; the tarsi longer than the middle toe, robust, and 

 more or less covered with feathers ; the toes moderate and 

 robust ; the lateral toes more or less uaited to the middle 

 one, and the hind toe rudimental. 



Genus PTEROCLES, Temminck. 

 Bill small, the culmen rounded and curved to the tip, the 

 sides compressed, and the lateral margins arched and entire ; 

 the nostrils basal, lateral, with the opening partly closed by 

 a membrane, which is nearly hidden by the frontal plumes ; 

 wings very long and pointed, with the first and second 

 quills the longest ; tail moderate, and wedge-shaped ; tarsi 

 robust, longer than the middle toe, with the front and inner 

 sides clothed with feathers ; toes short, thick, much united 

 at thejr bases by a prominent membrane, which extends 

 along the sides of each toe, the upper surface covered with 

 transverse scales, and the under surface with granulated 

 scales ; the hind toe rudimental ; the claws short, curved, 

 and robust. 



535. Pterocles Tachypetes, Tem. ; Gai. des 



Ois., p. 715 ; Ramaqua Grouse, Shaw., Vol. 11, p. 

 313; Tetrao Namaqua, G,mel., Cuv., Vol. 3, p. 42 ; 

 Namaqua Patrys of Colonists. 



5 : ashy-brown ; throat and chin, yellowish ; head, neck, 

 and chest, ashy; feathers of back, dark-bro-wn at the shafts, 

 succeeded by a band of bright nankin, then by a light- 

 purple spot, and finally tipped with dark-brown, giving the 

 back a spotted appearance; wing-feathers dark brown ; 

 lower part of chest, viuaceous ; between it and the bel'.y a 

 double band, first of white, then of dark brownish-red ; 

 belly, purple-ash ; vent and under tail-coverts, ochreous- 



