Notes on Pallas s Sand-grouse in Scotland. 1 25 



fuU-plumaged males the average expanse from tip to tip of 

 the wings was a little over 27 inches ; total length from 

 point of bill to tip of tail, fully 16 ; wing from flexure, 10 j ; 

 projection of first primary beyond the second, If; central 

 rectrices about 8 inches (the longest measured was 8|), ex- 

 ceeding the next by about 3|. In the females the average 

 expanse was about 24^- inches ; the total length fully 14 ; 

 wing from flexure, 9 ; projection of first primary over the 

 second, 1 inch; central rectrices nearly 6, exceeding the next 

 by nearly 2 inches. Tarsus in both about 1 inch, and foot J. 



The crops of the bulk of those I dissected in May and 

 June were filled mainly with clover and grass seeds, mixed 

 with grain — either barley or oats. As a rule the clover pre- 

 dominated, though in a few instances little else but grain was 

 present. Green food was found in the stomachs of some, 

 particularly those from Shetland. In winter they appear to 

 have fed mostly on noxious weeds; the crop and stomach of 

 the bird shot near Drem on 11th ult., for instance, contained 

 nothing but the seeds of Atriplex and PolygonvAn, and these 

 in large quantity. Pupae of a small dipterus insect were 

 twice found among the contents of the crops. 



IV. Habits and Call-Notes. — Though I had the satisfaction 

 of seeing flocks of these most interesting birds on two different 

 occasions, the opportunities for observing their habits were 

 so meagre, that I have scarcely any remarks to make on this 

 head. The localities they chiefly affected were extensive 

 commons and sandhills — bents or links as they are frequently 

 called — on the coast. From these haunts they made daily 

 excursions to the adjoining arable lands, where an abundant 

 supply of food was readily procured. Those I fell in with on 

 the sandhills sat so low and motionless, that I could not 

 detect them till they suddenly sprang into the air and sped 

 away on rapid pinions. On wing they undoubtedly at the 

 first glance remind one of a flock of Golden Plover, as has 

 been so often remarked. When feeding on the newly sown 

 fields, I observed they, as a rule, moved all in one direction, 

 keeping well in line and rapidly picking up the grain very 

 much after the manner of a flock of pigeons. The short legs 

 give rise to a sort of rolling gait, but they run with consider- 



