Sand-Grouse. 17 



All the species have the tarsus covered 

 with short downy feathers. Some have 

 the toes feathered in addition. A hind 

 toe of minute size is present in some 

 species, absent in others. 



The Indian Sand-Grouse may be divided 

 into three groups. In the first group 

 (Syrrhaptes) the toes as well as the tarsus 

 are feathered, and there is no hind toe. 

 The Tibetan Pin-tailed Sand-Grouse is 

 the only representative of this group. 



The second group (Pteroclurus) con- 

 tains three species. These have bare 

 toes, a minute hindtoe, and the middle 

 pair of tail-feathers prolonged to a narrow 

 point. To this group belong the Eastern 

 Pin-tailed, the Common Pin-tailed, and the 

 Spotted Pin-tailed, Sand-Grouse. 



The third group (Pterocles) contains 

 four species. These have bare toes, a 

 minute hindtoe, and the middle pair of 

 tail-feathers of the ordinary shape, not 

 prolonged to a narrow point. To this 

 group belong the Black-bellied, the Coro- 

 netted, the Indian Painted, and the Close- 

 barred, Sand-Grouse. 



