THASIANID^. 237 



262. Pterocles arenarius (Pallas). The Black-bellied Sand- 

 Grouse. 



Moorish. El Koudri. Spanish. Corteza. 



Favier merely mentions that this Sand-Grouse " occurs in Dar 

 el Baidar." 



On the European side, this large species of Sand-Grouse, 

 though extremely local, is resident in the marisma and near 

 Utrera, nesting late in May, but does not appear near Gibraltar. 

 I do not think there is any migration of this bird. The different 

 species of Sand-Grouse lay three eggs only, of an elliptical form, 

 placed on the bare ground without any nest ; eggs of this species 

 taken near Seville are of a pale cream-colour, marked all over 

 with faint spots of very light brown. 



Belly uniform black ; centre tail-feathers not elongated. 



Male. Throat chestnut. 



Female. Throat yellowish white. Length 13 inches. 



Future visitors to Morocco should look out for Pterocles seneyallus 

 (Linnseus), which most probably occurs in the southern part of the country, 

 and has no pectoral zone. Chest and upper parts covered with round 

 black spots. Length 13 inches. 



Order GALLINJE. Family PHASIANIDJE. 



263. Caccabis rufa (Linnseus). The Western Red-legged or 

 French Partridge. 



Spanish. Perdiz. 



This Partridge is, throughout Andalucia, plentiful and resident, 

 frequenting the monte or scrub, not, as in some parts of England, 

 being found in cultivated places. Never known to occur on the 

 African side of the Straits, it is not even found on the Rock of 

 Gibraltar, which would seem rather strange, as it is to be seen 

 on the Queen of Spain's Chair, and occasionally on the plain 



