THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 



147 



Gait. — A walk or run, easier than would be expected 

 from their shape. 



Flight. — Swift and direct, by continuous strokes of the 

 wing ; they can travel long distances. 



Disposition and Habits. — They are sociable, but rather 

 quarrelsome. They dust instead of bathing. 



Note. — A double croak or cackle. 



Economic Qualities. — They are very fair eating, and 

 carry more breast-meat than any other game-birds ; 

 they are good sporting birds. 



Captivity. — They are easy to keep, and two species 

 have bred, Pterocles alchatus and P. exustus. 



Distribution and Important Species. — The dry 

 regions of the Old World, usually in open country. 

 There are about seventeen species ; the best known 

 generally, owing to its repeated invasions of 

 Europe, and even our islands, is Pallas's three-toed 

 Sand-grouse {Syrrhaptes paradoxus), a migratory 

 species with very long pointed wings. 



Screamers (Palamedeidce). 



Diagnosis. — Large marsh-birds, with fowl-like bills 

 and two -spurred wings. 



Size. — About that of a domestic goose. 



Form. — Bill fowl-like, but corner of mouth below 

 forehead ; feet with stout shanks, thighs bare above 

 hock, toes four, all well-developed and on same 

 level, two outer front ones connected by a short 

 web. Wings large, broad, with two spurs on the 

 pinion-joint. Tail short, broad. Head small, neck 

 rather long, body bulky. 



Plumage. — Dull, with no sexual difference, and young 

 like parents. 



Young. — Active and feeding themselves, much like 

 goslings ; down without markings. In the Crested 



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