186 BIRDS OF LANCASHIRE. 



OKDER PTEEOCLETES. 



FAMILY PTEEOCLID^.— GENUS SYKRHAPTES. 



PALLAS'S SAND-GEOUSE. 



Syrrhaptes paradoxus (Pallas). 



This Asiatic species, in its extraordinary invasion of 

 Europe in 1863, appeared in Lancashire only one day 

 later than in any other part of England. Two males 

 and one female were shot on the 21st of May, out of a 

 flock of fourteen, at Thropton, in Northumberland 

 (Yarrell's " Brit. Birds," 4th ed., Saunders), and on the 

 22nd, a covey of about fourteen was reported by Mr. E. 

 J. Schollick in a letter to the Ti))i('s of May 26th ; this 

 Professor Newton {Ihis, 1864, p. 210) says he believes 

 to be the first published notice of the arrival of 

 Syrrhaptes in England. Mr. Schollick wrote that the 

 birds were seen on the Isle of Walney, and that his 

 informant, who had just shot a beautiful brace, a cock 

 and hen, told him they were very tame, permitting a 

 near approach while feeding in a field of corn, and 

 rising with a peculiar cry, but not flying far. In the 

 Zoolufiist for 1863, Mr. T. H. Allis, of York, reported 

 several others which were obtained in Morecambe Bay, 

 near Lancaster, from the last week in May to the end 

 of June, stating that the ovaries of the females con- 

 tained eggs in various stages of development. No 

 further examples appear to have been noticed until one 

 was shot at Piisley (Xat. Scrap Book, part ii. 1864, 



