WHITE SHEATn-BILU— CAioiiis aHici. 



The female Sand Grouse makes no nest, l)ut lays her eggs, generally about two or three 

 in innnlior, on the bare ground. Tlie young birds are very strong of foot, and as soon as 

 their phinuige has dried after their exit from the shell, they run about with Iheir mother, 

 and can afterwards lead a vagrant life. 



The male bird has its forehead wliitish, then a black patch and then -white. The upper 

 part of the plumage is dusky brown, mottled with bulf ; and its tail is butf, barreil profusely 

 with blackish brown, tlie tip being buff, and the last bar very broad and black. The 

 breast is pale buti", and between the breast and abdomen runs a semilunar white band, 

 reaching up to the shoulders. Just below the white there is an equally con.spicuo(is black 

 band, also running up under the wings to tlie shoulders. The .abdomen and Hanks are 

 pale bulf, mottled transversely with Mack-brown. In the female the plumage is of a more 

 yellow cast, the black patch on the forehead and black baud round the chest are wanting, 

 and the white band has a grey tinge. 



Another curious group of birds is known by the title of Slieath-bills, on account of 

 the remarkable sheath of horny substance, whicli is situated on the base of the bill, and 

 under which lie the nostrils. Tlie use of this appendage is rather obscure. The whole of 

 the bill is short and stout, and it is considerably arched towards the tip. 



One of the commonest species of this group is the White Sheath-bill, a native of 

 Australia, New Zealand, and neighbouring islands. 



This bird is almost exclusively found upon the coasts, finding its food among tlie 

 molluscs, small crustacere, and bestranded hsli and other similar substances. I'erhaps, 

 under some circumstances, it may subsist ou carrion, and theivl)y give an evil flavour to 

 its flesh, as there are very contradictoiy reports as to its value for the table, some specimens 



