242 BIRDS OF DAMARA LAND. 



[This fine Sand- Grouse is at present unfigured. I have not 

 personally examined a Damara example of this species ; but a 

 characteristic portrait of it by Mr. Baines was included in Mr. 

 Andersson's collection of drawings of Damara birds. ED.] 



287. Pterocles vaiiegatus, Burch. Variegated Sand-Grouse. 



Pterocles varieyatus, Burchell's Travels in S. Africa, vol. ii. p. 345. 

 Smith's Zool. of S. Africa, pi. 10 (male). 

 Strickland & Sclater, Birds Damar., Cont. Orn. 



1852, p. 157. 



Layard's Cat. No. 538. 

 Chapman's Travels in S. Afr., App. p. 412. 

 Gray's Hand-list of Birds, No. 9465. 



This species is not uncommon in the northern and 

 middle parts of Damara Land, as well as in the Lake- 

 regions ; but I do not recollect having met with it further 

 to the south. It feeds on seeds, berries, and roots, and 

 frequents its drinking-places early in the morning. Its 

 flesh is tough like that of its congeners. 



The mode of drinking adopted by this and by other 

 South-African Sand-Grouse resembles, as has been 

 already mentioned, that which I have described in the 

 case of the wild Guinea-fowl. 



[I have not seen an example of this species from Damara 

 Land ; but Mr. Andersson's identification of it is confirmed by 

 Messrs. Strickland and Sclater (loc. cit.). ED.] 



288. PteroclimiS namaqua (Gmel.). Namaqtta Sand-Grouse. 



Pterocles tachypetes, Layard's Cat. No. 535. 



Pteroclurus namaqua, Gray's Hand-list of Birds, No. 9468. 



This Sand-Grouse is very abundant in some parts 

 of Damara Land, where these birds may be observed 



