THE PIN-TAILED FOUR-TOED SAND-GROUSE. 



*3 



belly deep chestnut-brown. Total length, 13 inches ; wing, 7*1; 

 tail, 5-3; tarsus, 0-9. 



Adult Female. — Has the chest and upper breast buff, spotted 

 with black ; and the belly blackish-brown, closely barred with 

 rufous-buff. Total length, 10 inches; wing, yo; tail, 3-6; 

 tarsus, o'8. 



Range. — This bird is found over a wide area, and extends from 

 Senegal in Western Africa through North and East Africa across 

 South-western Asia to the Peninsula of India. To the north, 

 it ranges to Palestine and Central Asia, and south to the Pan- 

 gani River in East Africa. 



Habits.— This is the commonest species of Sand-Grouse, and 

 in India, where in suitable localities it is specially numerous, it 

 is to be found in the sandy districts where vegetation is scarce. 

 From the excellent account given by Mr. A. O. Hume the fol- 

 lowing lines are borrowed : — " The Common Sand-Grouse, 

 though frequently met with in considerable packs numbering 

 from twenty to two hundred individuals, is never, so far as my 

 experience goes, seen in those enormous flocks which P. alchatus 

 and, in a somewhat lesser degree, P. arenarius, affect. In all 

 parts of the country where I have shot them, I have most fre- 

 quently seen them in parties of from five to thirty. . . They 

 live wholly on seeds, and no small seeds seem to come amiss 

 to them. . . From 8 to 10 a.m., according to season, they 

 are off to some stream, river, or tank to drink, and where, or 

 at times when, water is scarce and drinking-places few and far 

 between, very considerable numbers resort to the same place, 

 and afford opportunities for very pretty sport, if several guns lie 

 up at distances of from one to two hundred yards from the pool, 

 and shoot the birds fairly as they come and go, high over head. 

 Their flight is then swift and strong, and they will carry off a 

 great deal of shot. . . Their approach is always notified by 

 their peculiar chuckling, far-reaching double call, which they 

 continually utter during flight. . . After the morning drink, 



