THE SAND GROUSE. 157 



first instance of its occurrence in these islands 

 was in July, 1859, when an individual shot by a 

 labourer on Portreuddyn Farm, at the north end 

 of Cardigan Bay, found its way to the Derby 

 Museum at Liverpool.* In 1863, there occurred 

 a regular irruption of these birds across Europe 

 to the shores of England, and several specimens 

 were obtained, principally in the eastern counties, 

 since which period the migration has apparently 

 ceased, and the sand grouse is once again a rar'm- 

 sima ai'is, more prized than ever by collectors, 

 having now established its title to be considered a 

 British bird. In an exhaustive article communi- 

 cated to " The Ibis," Professor Alfred Xewton 

 has not only recorded the particulars of what he 

 aptly terms "this Tartar invasion," illustrated by 

 a sketch map, but given us an ample biography of 

 the species, equally remarkable for scientific re- 

 search and laborious investigation, as well as for 

 the felicitous style which characterizes whatever 

 falls from the pen of that distinguished orni- 

 thologist. 



* Mr. T. J. Moore in " The Ibis," 1st scries, Vol. II. 



