PTEEOCLES ARENAEIUS 237 



of the day, and do not leave them except for drinking and feeding 

 purposes. Like other species of Sand-Grouse, P. arenarius is chiefly 

 to be seen during the early morning and evening hours, when on its 

 way to or from its drinking and feeding haunts. It is said to drink 

 regularly twice a day, but in Tunisia I never observed the birds 

 drinking except in the morning. To reach water they often travel 

 a great distance, but no doubt do this with the greatest ease, being 

 remarkably strong and swift on the wing. When rising from the 

 ground the rattling noise this species makes, probably with its wings, 

 is most peculiar, and unlike that of any other bird with which I am 

 acquainted. The note it utters when on the wing, and which may 

 be heard at a great distance, is like the word "cafarr" repeated 

 several times, whence the bird's Arabic name of "Kdarr." When 

 disturbed it will travel for a great distance, often completely out of 

 sight, before settling down again, but at its drinking resorts it seems 

 loath to leave the spot until its thirst is quenched. 



The species feeds chiefly on the seeds and tender shoots of wild 

 plants, though when in the vicinity of cultivated land it will resort 

 thereto in search of grain. As a bird for the table its flesh is by 

 no means to be despised, and though perhaps rather drier, may be 

 hkened to that of Black-Game, the flesh of the breast being both 

 dark and light, as in that bird. Sand-Grouse in general are difficult 

 to skin, their feathers, like those of Pigeons, being loosely attached 

 to the skin ; and it requires all the taxidermist's art to produce good 

 museum specimens. 



Like its congeners, the present species is monogamous and rather 

 a late breeder, though not as late as stated by most authors, and I 

 have obtained full clutches of eggs by the middle of April. The 

 nesting-season of the species, however, continues throughout that 

 and the following month, and probably also throughout June. 



The eggs of P. arenarius, which are three in number and elliptical 

 in shape, are deposited in a slight depression in the ground, and are 

 of a glossy-ochreous or pale buff-colour, with a few indistinct lilac-grey 

 shell-spots and pale yellowish-brown surface-blotches. The spots and 

 blotches are occasionally collected together in a zone at one end. 

 Average measurements 4-5 X 30 mm. 



