236 PTEROCLID.E. 



Order PTEROCLETES. Family PTEROCLID^. 



261. Pteroclurus alchata (Linnaeus). The Pin-tailed Sand- 

 Grouse. 



Moorish. El Gata. Spanish. Ganga. 



Favier states this species to be " scarce near Tangier, but 

 common about Dar el Baidar " ; and says ". they cross the Straits 

 in spring, returning in August and July." 



This beautifully marked bird is the most common Sand-Grouse 

 on the Spanish side, although very local, being abundant about 

 the edges of the marisma, where they nest late in May, as also 

 near Granada. Some may be migratory ; but I have seen them 

 in January near Seville. I never saw any in the neighbourhood 

 of Gibraltar. 



The flight of both species of Sand-Grouse is very powerful ; 

 and sometimes they go to such a height that, although you can 

 hear their croaking hoarse call, they are almost out of sight. 

 Becoming excessively tame and familiar when kept in con- 

 finement, in a wild state they are very difficult to approach 

 without a stalking-horse, and when obtained are, in my opinion, 

 of no use to eat. They are very difficult birds to skin, the 

 feathers coming out like those of a Pigeon. 



Eggs of this Pin-tailed Sand-Grouse, taken near Seville, are of 

 a reddish-buff" colour, marked all over with spots of reddish 

 brown and light grey. 



The European and African form has been separated as a 

 distinct species, P. pyrenaicus, because they are of richer colour 

 .than Asiatic birds (!). 



Lower breast and belly white. Chest chestnut, with black line above and 

 below. Two centre tail-feathers much elongated and pointed. 

 Male. Throat black. 

 Female. Throat white. Length 13^ inches, tail 5 inches. 



