PTEROCLUKUS ALCHATUS CAUOACUTUS 283 



of breeding-plumage and eclipse and those last moulted of eclipse 

 and winter-plumage." 



Distribution. — The area of distribution of our Indian bird extends 

 from the north-west of India, through Beluchistan, Afghanistan and 

 Persia, across the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus Mountains into the 

 South Eussian steppes and throughout Eastern Asia Minor, and 

 again due west through Southern Persia and Arabia into Northern 

 Africa, through Abyssinia, Nubia, Egypt, the Sahara and as far west 

 as Morocco. 



Within Indian limits the Large Pin-tailed Sand-Grouse occurs in 

 enormous numbers in the north-west and Sind in the Trans-Indus 

 country ; in great numlsers also in the Punjab between the Indus 

 and the Chenab, after which it becomes less common towards the 

 Gara and the Beas, though still constantly and regularly met with ; 

 from here it extends through the Punjab, having been found in 

 Ludhiana, and Delhi in the extreme east. In the south, Hume 

 obtained it as far as Sambhar in Rajputana, and I have notices of 

 its occurrence from Jodhpur and Bikanir, and Major C. G. Nurse, in 

 1902, recorded it from Deesa, still further south than it had been 

 previously obtained. This last bird was shot by Captain L. Oldfield, 

 R.F.A., who obtained one specimen out of a flock of twenty or 

 twenty-five birds. 



Nidification. — The Large Pin-tailed Sand-Grouse does not regularly 

 breed with us in India, though it has done so on rare occasions, and 

 may, quite possibly, be often found to do so ; otherwise it breeds in 

 suitable localities throughout its range. 



The first egg of this species taken in India is one now in the 

 British Museum, which was found at Jhimpir in Sind on the 

 10th July, 1878. After this, nothing else was recorded until 

 Mr. Bogle wrote the following interesting note to the 'B.N.H.S. 

 Journal,' which I quote in exteiiso, merely noting that it was written 

 from Mardan in the Punjab. 



" 1 cannot see, either in Oates, Jerdon, or Hume and Marshall 

 any record of the Eastern Pin-tailed Sand-Grouse, Pterodes alcliatux 

 breeding in India, whicli I think I may claim to have proved breeds 

 in the Peshawar Valley. Two days ago, eggs were brought to me 

 by a man, who declared one was that of the Common and the other 

 that of the Pin-tailed Sand-Grouse. Doubting his word I made 



