NATURE AND SPORT IN BRITAIN 



England they were frequently mistaken for golden or 

 grey plover. Those eager gunners who, unhappily, 

 are always on the look-out for rare species, secured 

 large numbers of them, and the local taxidermists had 

 a busy time of it. This thirst for shooting every rare 

 or unwonted kind of bird is accountable for the dis- 

 appearance of many interesting forms of feathered life 

 in these islands. 



During this migration of 1888, Pallas's sand-grouse 

 was found far and wide in Western Europe. Its most 

 northerly occurrence seems to have been near Trondh- 

 jem, in western Norway. 



It was observed during its stay in this country that 

 the bird was moulting between May and the end of 

 September. By the middle of October the change of 

 plumage seems to have been accomplished, and the 

 bird had assumed its proper coat and condition. 

 Mr. Tegetmeier weighed about this time a hen bird 

 which had been shot in Norfolk ; she was then in first- 

 rate condition and scaled eleven ounces. There can 

 be little doubt that large numbers of Pallas's sand- 

 grouse were shot in England when partially disabled 

 by the exigencies of the moulting period. When in 

 full plumage no birds in the world are finer or more 

 swift and enduring flyers. At the same time, as sand- 

 grouse are but little shot at in the deserts which form 

 their natural home, they are singularly fearless of man- 

 kind. The habits of Pallas's sand-grouse, as described 

 by General Prejevalski, the well-known traveller in 

 Central Asia, resemble almost exactly those of the 

 various sand-grouse of South Africa. At the drinking- 

 places they circle round the water. Presently they alight, 

 " hastily drink, and rise again, and, in cases where the 

 flocks are large, the birds in front get up before those 

 at the back have time to alight. They know their 



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