THE WORLD'S BIBBS* 147 



GAIT. A walk or run, easier than would be expected 

 from their shape. 



FLIGHT. Swift and direct, by continuous strokes of the 

 wing ; they can travel long distances. 



DISPOSITION AND HABITS. They are sociable, but rather 

 quarrelsome. They dust instead of bathing. 



NOTE. A double croak or cackle. 



ECONOMIC QUALITIES. They are very fair eating, and 

 carry more breast-meat than any other game-birds ; 

 they are good sporting birds. 



CAPTIVITY. They are easy to keep, and two species 

 have bred, Pterocles alchatus and P. exustus. 



DISTRIBUTION AND IMPORTANT SPECIES. The dry 

 regions of the Old World, usually in open country. 

 There are about seventeen species; the best known 

 generally, owing to its repeated invasions of 

 Europe, and even our islands, is Pallas' s three-toed 

 Sand-grouse (Syrrhaptes paradoxus), a migratory 

 species with very long pointed wings; 



SCREAMERS (Palamedeidcz). 



DIAGNOSIS. Large marsh-birds, with fowl-like bills 

 and two -spurred wings; 



SIZE. About that of a domestic goose. 



FORM. Bill fowl-like, but corner of mouth below 

 forehead ; feet with stout shanks, thighs bare above 

 hock, toes four, all well-developed and on same 

 level, two outer front ones connected by a short 

 web. Wings large, broad, with two spurs on the 

 pinion-joint. Tail short, broad. Head small* neck 

 rather long, body bulky. 



PLUMAGE. Dull, with no sexual difference, and young 

 like parents. 



YOUNG. Active and feeding themselves, much like 

 goslings ; down without markings. In the Crested 



10* 



