THE BANDED SAND-GROUSE. 185 



is rounded, but rather lengthened ; it varies in 

 length from twelve to fourteen inches. 



The banded sand-grouse is found on the vast 

 sandy plains in the south of the Russian empire, 

 upon the banks of the Volga, but most abundantly 

 in the north of Africa. Temminck also thinks that 

 it is entitled to the rank of a European straggler, 

 one or two instances having occurred of its being 

 met with in Spain and Germany. Nauman killed 

 one on the territory of Anhalt, and several others 

 were said to have been found in the same season ; 

 Temminck possesses two specimens killed in Spain. 

 The nest is made among stunted brush, upon the 

 ground, and four or five eggs only are deposited. 

 The principal food during the season is the seeds of 

 an astragalus. 



Pterocles exustus, coronatus, Lichtensteinii, are 

 other delicately marked species, inhabiting the Afri- 

 can deserts, and having nearly the same manners, 

 while a beautiful species inhabiting India was made 

 known by Sonnerat, under the name of Gelinote des 

 Indes. The Pterocles quadricinctus of Temminck, 

 is so uamed, from four bands of brown, white, black, 

 and again white, which encircle the breast of the 

 adult males. 



Another interesting species is the pintailed sand- 

 grouse, Pterocles setarius of Temminck, a native of 

 Europe as well as Africa, and the only one which 

 can be called really European. It is remarkable in 

 the lengthened form of the centre tail-feathers, and 



