CHAPTER XXVII 

 PALLAS'S SAND-GROUSE 



An inhabitant of Central Asia — First appearance in England — Migra- 

 tions of cross-bills — Records of appearance of sand-grouse — Reasons 

 for visitation — Migration of 1888 — Considerable numbers shot — Ap- 

 pearance in Norway — Moulting period — Weight of bird — Habits — 

 Sand-grouse in South Africa — Drinking-time — Flight-shooting — Pro- 

 tective colouring — Characteristics of these birds — European species. 



THIS interesting species, whose natural habitat lies 

 in the dreary Kirghiz Steppes of Central Asia, 

 once again made its appearance in England in 1899. 

 It is far more than probable that Pallas's sand-grouse, 

 driven from its ancient abiding-places in Central Asia 

 by some inexorable pressure of nature, has been in the 

 habit of migrating temporarily into Western Europe 

 during long ages of the past. But until the nine- 

 teenth century we have no record of its occurrence in 

 England. During the Middle Ages and much later, 

 down even to the time of Gilbert White, men were not 

 much in the habit of recording the habits and appear- 

 ances of rare birds. There is, it is true, a curious 

 tradition of overwhelming migrations of cross-bills 

 into England in the reigns of Edward III. and Eliza- 

 beth ; but the coming of this species seems to have 

 attracted notice mainly from the fact that great flocks 

 devastated the fruit orchards and ruined much of the 

 apple crop in the years of this strange and unwonted 

 visitation. It is certain that White of Selborne makes 

 no mention of the sand-grouse, nor does he or any of 



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