240 BIBDS OF TUNISIA 



The morning flight of Sand-Grouse for the purpose of drinking, 

 commences soon after sunrise, and is generally continued for an hour 

 or two, or until the sun is well up, when it entirely ceases. During 

 the time the flight lasts, the spot visited by the birds, particularly 

 should it happen to be one where water is abundant, presents a most 

 animated scene, the air being full of small flocks hurrying to and fro, 

 and the sandy banks and exposed parts of the river-bed being in some 

 places thickly covered by them, while the chorus formed by many 

 hundreds of clamorous bird voices creates quite a babel of sound. 



The food of this species, like that of other Sand-Grouse, consists 

 chiefly of the seeds and tender parts of various desert plants. Its 

 note is a ringing " catarr" or " guettarr," whence its name in Arabic 

 and other languages. 



In its habits generally and in its mode of breeding, it resembles 

 its congeners. Its eggs, however, differ from those of the preceding 

 species in being rather more richly coloured and marked. They are 

 three in number and generally of a warm ochreous colour, with pale 

 lilac-grey shell-marks, and rufous-brown surface-blotches. Average 

 measurements 45 X 30 mm. 



The present and other species of Sand-Grouse appear to thrive and 

 breed freely in captivity. Hybrids between P. alchata and P. a. 

 pyrenaiciis have been obtained and some were deposited in the 

 gardens of the Zoological Society of London in 1900. 



PTEROCLES SENEGALLUS (Linn^us). 



SENEGAL SAND-GROUSE. 



Tetrao senegallus, Linn. Mantissa, p. 526 (1771). 

 Pterocles senegallus, Shelley, Binh of EgxjiU, p. 220 (1872). 

 Pteroclurus senegallus, Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxii, p. 14. 

 Pteroclurus senegalus, Loche, Expl. Sci. Alg. Ois. ii, p. 234 (1867) ; 



Koenig, J. f. 0. 1888, p. 254; id. J.f. 0. 1893, p. 73. 

 Pterocles senegalus, Whitaker, Ibis, 1895, p. 105. 



Description. — Adult male, summer, from Tripoli. 



Crown and upperparts generally sandy buff, the former encircled by a 

 greyish-blue band extending to and round the nape ; primaries greyish, with 

 blackish shafts and margins to the inner webs ; secondaries blackish, tipped 

 with yellowish-buff; upper wing-coverts maddei-browu, tipped with buff; 



