CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 



293 



flight is said to be extraordinary, swift and soaring in nature, and per- 

 mits the birds in their native habitat to range many miles from the 

 limited water supply of the arid regions which they inhabit. 



Sand-grouse are native to most of Africa including Egypt, Arabia, 

 Persia, India and Southwestern and Central Asia. Some migratory 

 forms enter southern Europe in summer and sporadic invasions of this 

 bird have occurred in northern Europe even as far as the British Isles. 

 Some species are highly migratory and others are permanent residents 

 of the regions which they inhabit. All are birds of open, more or less 

 barren regions and since they are said to fly as much as 20 to 25 miles 

 daily for water, they are able to forage in arid regions at great distances 

 from this element which is so necessary for the survival of our native 

 desert quail. For this reason, the fact that it seems possible that sand- 

 grouse may be successfully introduced into certain arid regions of the 



"^§1'" 



Fig. 114. Sand-grouse in Anaverde Valley, Los Angeles County. At left, birds 

 in holding pen, two males in foreground, females at rear. Right, female after libera- 

 tion. Photos by G. H. True, Jr. March 2, 1934. 



State where native game birds are unable to exist on account of lack 

 of water, the present experiment is being watched with great interest. 

 Sand-grouse normally lay but two or three eggs to the clutch, 

 varying with the species, but literature at our disposal fails to inform 

 whether or not they breed more than once in a season. Perhaps, on 

 account of their pigeon-like relationship, they may breed twice or more 

 in a year. At any event, their low egg production, if they nest but 

 once a year, indicates that they are birds well able to cope with the 

 natural enemies of their native land. How they will fare against our 

 predatory species remains to be seen. The State Game Farm, at Yount- 

 ville, has experimented with two pairs of these birds for the past two 

 seasons and has found them to be hardy and to propagate successfully 

 in captivity. 



8—12731 



