SYRliHAPTES. PIEROCLIDURUS. 



75 



The surface-markings vary considerably in colour and character, 

 and are of much service for the purpose of identification. 



The eggs of the Sand-Grouse are curiously like those of the 

 Nightjars both in shape and coloration. 



Genus SYRRHAPTES, Illiger. 



Syrrhaptes paradoxus (Pall.}. 



Syrrhaptes paradoxus, Newton, P. Z. S. 1861, p. 397, pi. xxxix. fig. 1 ; 

 Dresser, Birds Eur. vii. p. 75 (1876); Seebohm, Brit. Birds, ii. 

 p. 419, pi. 20 (1884) ; Grant, Cat. Birds B. M. xxii. p. 2 (1893) ; 

 Seebohm, Eyys of Brit. Birds, p. 160, pi. 47. figs. 10, 12 (1896) ; 

 Sharpe, Hand-l. i. p. 50 (1899). 



The eggs of Pallas's Three-toed Sand-Grouse are of a pale stone- 

 colour. The surface-markings, consisting of specks, spots and 

 blotches of yellowish brown, are evenly distributed over the shell. 

 Seven examples measure from 1'55 to 1*7 in length, and from 1*13 

 to 1'25 in breadth. 



2. Laid in confinement (Zool. Gardens, P. L. Sciater, Esq. [P.]. 



Amsterdam). 

 .">. Altai Mountains, May (C. A. Tancre). Seebohm Coll. 



Syrrhaptes tibetanus, Gould. 

 (Plate VIII. fig. 13.) 



Syrrhaptes tibetanus, Hume fy Marsh. Game Birds Ind. i. p. 43 (1879) ; 

 Grant, Cat. Birds B. M. xxii. p. 5 (1893) ; Gates, Game Birds Ind. 

 i. p. 18 (1898) ; Sharpe, Hand-l. i. p. 50 (1899). 



The eggs of the Tibetan Three-toed Sand-Grouse in the Collection 

 are of a pale creamy-buff colour. Both the shell-markings and the 

 surface-markings are small, and the latter consist entirely of spots 

 of dull reddish brown, evenly distributed over the whole shell. 

 Two examples measure respectively: 1-9 by 1-37; 2 by 1-33. 



2. Pamir, C. Asia. 



St. G. Littledale, Esq. [P.]. 



Genus PTEROCLIDURUS, Bp. 



Pteroclidurus alchatus (Linn.). 

 (Plate VIII. fig. 11.) 



Pterocles alchata, Hume $ Marsh. Game Birds Ind. i. p. 77 (1879). 

 Pteroclurus alchata, Grant, Cat. Birds B. M. xxii. p. 7 (1893) ; Oates, 



Game Birds Ind. i. p. 22 (1898). 

 Pteroclidurus alchatus, Sharpe, Hand-l. i. p. 50 (1899). 



The egg of the Eastern Pin-tailed Sand-Grouse in the Col- 

 lection does riot resemble the eggs of P. pyrenaicus so closely as 

 might be expected. It is of a creamy-buff colour, and the surface- 

 markings, which consist of small specks, spots and smudges of 



