PTEROCLID.E. 



301 



coverts) fulvous, closely barred with deep brown, also the 

 space between the pectoral band and the abdomen ; neck and 

 breast unspotted dingy isabelline ; abdomen as in the male ; the 

 central rectrices are not elongated. 



The Common Sand Grouse occurs abundantly throughout the 

 region. It does not affect hilly or rocky districts, nor is it found in 

 forest or swampy places. It is very partial to fallow or ploughed land. 

 It is a permanent resident, breeding pretty near all the year through. 

 The eggs, three in number, are deposited in a slight depression 

 on, the ground; they are of the usual shape peculiar to Grouse, long 

 and cylindrical, equally blunt at both ends ; in color they are greyish 

 or greenish- white or even light olive-brown, thickly streaked, 

 blotched and spotted equally over the whole surface with darker 

 or lighter shades of olive-brown and with pale underlying clouds 

 of very pale inky-purple. 



They average T45 inches in length by about T03 in breadth. 



The following key, published in Stray Feathers, Vol. VII, 

 p. 159, may prove useful : 



Key to the Indian species of PTEROCLES. 



A. Without pectoral band. 



a. Stripe on each side of forehead from 



nostril to above the eye, chin and 

 centre of throat, black ... 



b. Lores and band encircling back of head 



pearly-grey ; cheeks, ear-coverts and 

 throat orange-yellow ; centre of abdo- 

 men black ... 



B. With pectoral band. 



a. Without black bar on the forehead. 

 a ' Median rectrices not lengthened much 

 beyond the rest ; upper part of 

 throat and sides of neck rufous ; 

 lower portion of throat black ; band 

 on lower part of breast; abdomen 

 and flanks black ... ... P. arenarius. 



b ' Median rectrices greatly lengthened 

 beyond the rest. 



a 2 Throat yellow; black band 

 across breast ; abdomen and flanks 

 chesnut ... ... P. exustus. 



6* Throat and stripe behind the 

 eye black ; sides of throat rufous ; 

 centre of breast chestnut, border- 

 ed above and below with black ; 

 rest of under parts white ... P. alchata. 



b With black across forehead. 



a ' Breast uniform greenish-buff. 



a a Lower part of breast bordered 

 with a chesnut band, succeeded 



1. P. coronatus. 



2. P. senegalus. 



