2i6 THE BIRDS OF ESSEX. 



Order PTEROCLETES. 



Family PTEROCLID^. 



Pallas's Sand-grouse : Syrrhaptes paradoxus. 



An erratic and occasional visitor to Britain from the Steppes of 

 Central Asia. It has several times appeared unaccountably in this 

 country, especially on the eastern side, in small numbers, and twice 

 in large numbers, namely, in 1863 and 1888. An interesting account 

 by Professor Newton of the invasion in the former year, may be 

 found in the Ibis for 1864 (vi. pp. 185 — 222). On neither occasion 

 does Essex seem to have had quite its full share of these visitors, 

 considering the large numbers that have been seen in Norfolk 

 and Suffolk. Bearing in mind the geographical position of the 

 county, the numbers visiting it might reasonably have been expected 

 to be much larger. 



In 1863, the following eleven specimens, at least, occurred : — Mr. J, Withers 

 (23. S684), shot one, which was alone and seemed very tired, in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Forest Gate, in June. Dr. Bree records (29 ; 23. 8684 and 34. 

 3688) a male and two females shot in a ploughed field about a quarter of a mile 

 from the sea at Mersea, on May (?) 29th. They were alone, very tame, in good 

 condition, and seemed to have come in from the sea. He also records (34. 3688) 

 that a female (not mentioned by Prof. Newton), was shot at Peldon, and with the 

 above two, was added to his Collection. Mr. Smoothy informs me that he saw 

 three which had been shot near Terling. Mr. Clarke writes that a good 

 many were shot at Siward's End, near Saffron Walden, the cottagers and others 

 making " pigeon pies " of them all, except two which passed through Mr. Travis's 

 hands! "On expressing my regret to Mr. Gould," adds Mr. Clarke, "at not 

 obtaining any of them for the Museum, he said, ' Do not fear ! They will breed, 

 and there will be plenty next year.' He was surprised when I replied, ' No ! 

 There will not be one.' I was right, however, and so it will be again." The 

 above were probably the same birds which Mr. Travis tells me were shot in a 

 field of tares by a boy who was scaring birds. He purchased them for 2s,, and 

 afterwards disposed of them, for ^^5 ! Major Ed. Taylor records (29 ; and 

 23. 8684), that they were shot "about two miles from the town," on June 7th, 

 and were male and female. A hitherto unrecorded specimen, which is still in 

 existence, was shot by Mr. J. W. Stallibrass on New Marsh Farm, Foulness 

 Island, during June. Mr. Stallibrass shot only this one out of the seven he saw, 

 hoping they would remain and breed ; but none were seen on the island after 

 the middle of July (Fitch — 50. ii. 271). 



