PTEROCLIDA. 301 
coverts) fulvous, closely barred with deep brown, also the 
space between the pectoral band and the abdomen; neck and 
breast unspotted dingy isabelline; abdomen as in the male; the 
central rectrices are not elongated. 
The Common Sand Grouse occurs abundantly throughout the 
region. It does not affect hilly or rocky districts, nor is it found in 
forest or swampy places. It is very partial to fallow or ploughed land. 
It is a permanent resident, breeding pretty near all the year through. 
The eggs, three in number, are deposited in a slight depression 
on the ground; they are ofthe usual shape peculiar to Grouse, long 
and cylindrical, equally blunt at both ends ; in color they are greyish 
or greenish-white or even light olive-brown, thickly streaked, 
blotched and spotted equally over the whoie surface with darker 
or lighter shades of olive-brown and with pale underlying clouds 
of very pale inky-purple. 
They average 1°45 inches in length by about 1:03 in breadth. 
The following key, published in Stray Feathers, Vol. VII, 
p. 159, may prove useful :— 
Key to the Indian species of PTEROCLES. 
A, Without pectoral band. 
a. Stripe on each side of forehead from 
nostril to above the eye, chin and 
centre of throat, black ... ... lL. P. coronatus. 
5. Lores and band encircling back of hea 
pearly-grey ; cheeks, ear-coverts and 
throat orange-yellow ; centre of abdo- 
men black ... a. .. 2 P. senegalus. 
B. With pectoral band, 
a. Without black bar on the forehead. 
a' Median rectrices not lengthened much 
beyond the rest; upper part of 
throat and sides of neck rufous; 
lower portion of throat black ; band 
on lower part of breast; abdomen 
and flanks black es oe P. arenarvus. 
b' Median rectrices greatly lengthened 
beyond the rest. 
a? Throat yellow; black band 
across breast ; abdomen and flanks 
chesnut wes oe P. exustus. 
b* Throat and stripe behind the 
eye black ; sides of throat rufous ; 
centre of breast chestnut, border- 
ed above and below with black ; 
rest of under parts white cae P. alchata. 
4 With black across forehead. 
a' Breast uniform greenish-buff. 
a* Lower part of breast bordered 
with a chesnut band, succeeded 
