2158 



PIGEONS AND SAND GROUSE 



thoroughly enjoying the scorching heat. During their siesta they are never closely 

 packed, but scattered over the ground singly or in twos and threes. 



Before leaving this genus mention must be made of the little painted 

 ' S sand grouse (P. fasdatus) of India, which is one of the most beautiful 

 of all the group, and distinguished by its small size and black and white markings 

 on the head. In habits it differs from the large sand grouse, and resembles the 

 nearly-allied close-barred sand grouse (P. lichtensteini) , while as regards its plum- 

 age it so closely approximates to the small African species (P. quadridndus) that it 

 can only be distinguished by the different arrangement of the black and white bars 

 adorning the smaller feathers of the wing. This species, which is seldom if ever 



A FLOCK OP PIN-TAILED SAND GROUSE. 



difficult of approach, and can run faster than the other kinds, is usually met with 

 in small packs or in pairs, and frequents the neighborhood of low, bush-clad, or 

 sparingly-wooded hills. Mr. Thompson says it is nocturnal, and that even on the 

 darkest night the birds arrive at the edge of the plain at dusk and remain feeding 

 and going to water during the dark hours before the moon gets up, and he has fre- 

 quently noted parties of six or seven flitting about noiselessly over an opening in the 

 forest long after sunset. 



