PALLAS'S SAND-GROUSE 



drinking-places very well, and very often go to them 

 from distances of tens of miles, especially in the 

 mornings between nine and ten o'clock, but after twelve 

 at noon they seldom visit these spots." 



In crossing the Kalahari Desert in South Africa, 

 where immense numbers of four different kinds of sand- 

 grouse are to be found making their home, I have 

 observed these birds very closely, and I am inclined 

 to think that Prejevalski's estimate of a range of "tens 

 of miles " made by sand-grouse during the day, when 

 in search of food, is somewhat too moderate a one. 

 Few birds are better provided by nature with powers 

 of flight. A glance at the structure of a sand-grouse 

 at once convinces the observer on this point. The long 

 and sharply pointed wings and tail are exactly de- 

 signed by nature for those unsurpassed feats of passage 

 which these birds exhibit. The deep breast-bone, the 

 strong wing-bones, and tremendous wing muscles at 

 once tell their inevitable tale. 



In the Kalahari country, at the scant desert waters, 

 three kinds of sand-grouse, the so-called " Namaqua 

 partridge " of the Dutch colonists, the yellow-throated 

 sand-grouse, and the variegated sand-grouse, are to be 

 seen flocking in from all parts of the country from 

 eight to ten o'clock a.m. for their day's drink. Circling 

 swiftly round the pool with sharp cries, they suddenly 

 stoop together towards the water. The noisy rustle of 

 their wings as they alight and ascend is most remark- 

 able. My hunting companion and I noticed that the 

 birds nearest the water drank quickly and moved off, 

 allowing those in rear to take their places and slake 

 their thirst, the whole process being accomplished with 

 unfailing order and regularity. The beautiful double- 

 banded sand-grouse we more often found drinking 

 towards evening, while the Namaqua sand-grouse and 



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