SAND-GROUSE. 



391 



other Species. 



Before leaving this genus mention must be made of the little 

 painted sand-grouse (P. fasciatus) of India, which is one of the most 

 beautiful of all the group, and distinguished by its small size and black-and-white 

 markings on the head. In habits it differs from the large sand-grouse, and resembles 

 the nearly allied close-barred sand-grouse (P. lichtensteini), while as regards its 

 plumage it so closely approximates to the small African species (P. qtuidricinctus) 

 that it can only be distinguished by the different arrangement of the black and 

 white bars adorning the smaller feathers of the wing. This species, which is seldom 



A FLOCK OP PIN-TAILED SAND-GROUSE. 



if ever difficult of approach, and can run faster than the other kinds, is usually met 

 with in small packs or in pairs, and frequents the neighbourhood of low, bush-clad, 

 or sparingly-wooded hills. Mr. Thompson says it is nocturnal, and that even in 

 the darkest night the birds arrive at the edge of the plain at dusk and remain 

 feeding and going to water during the dark hours before the moon gets up, and he 

 has frequently noted parties of six or seven flitting about noiselessly over an opening 

 in the forest long after sunset. 



Pin-TaUed The pin -tailed sand-grouse (Pteroclurus alchata) belongs to a 



Sand-Grouse, genus differing from the last by the elongation of the middle tail- 

 feathers, in this respect resembling Syrrhaptes. This species ranges from Asia 



