

PALLAs's SAND GROUSE IN NORFOLK. 455 



June 3rd, Mr. Newby, of that town, tells me " one was very 

 forward with egg, having one fully formed, bar the shell ; the 

 other was not so forward but full of fry. Tbe breast of one of 

 the males was almost bare, and the development of the genera- 

 tive organs in both males was very pronounced." 



Mr. Pashley, of Cley, received a female on 4th June, which 

 " had eggs about the size of a Hedge Accentor." Mr. Pycraft, 

 of Yarmouth, received a female on 2nd June, the ovary of wbich 

 he sent to Prof. Newton, who, he informs me, said it had all the 

 appearance of that of a bird about to breed. Mr. Gunn 

 measured the testes of a male killed about 6th June, wbich 

 were 15 and 13 mm. in length respectively. From that date tbe 

 generative organs appear gradually to have decreased in size, till 

 on 6th August Mr. Gunn received a pair from the same locality, 

 in wbich the testes of tbe male did not exceed 7 mm., and the 

 whole ovary of the female was not more than 10 mm. at its 

 greatest length. I should be inclined to the opinion that this 

 shrinking of the generative organs indicated that the breeding 

 season was over, in addition to which the plumage of the birds 

 soon after their arrival here became very ragged, and moulting 

 commenced. It would seem probable that the birds arrived here 

 at a period when they would naturally have been about to nest, 

 and tbat before they could settle in their new quarters, every 

 man's hand at first being against them, the season for reproduc- 

 tion had passed ; tbe unfavourable weather also experienced in 

 the past summer must be taken into consideration ; if so hardy 

 a bird as tbe Partridge was seriously affected by adverse climatic 

 influences, how much more trying must it have proved for these 

 strangers ! Sbould this be the true interpretation of their 

 sterility this season, it leaves a hope that some of the birds 

 which may survive till next spring, may still propagate their 

 species and their offspring may become naturalised. It bas 

 been noted in tbe 'Field,' that tbe late-killed birds were very 

 much emaciated, and that their feet were clogged with soil ; this 

 is entirely the reverse of my experience ; only one in the large 

 number of these birds which have come under my notice was at 

 all emaciated, and that proved to have been wounded ; whilst 

 those killed in September and October, were all exceedingly fat, 

 some weighing as much as 12£ oz., and in even better condition 

 than those killed in May. The only bird with a foot clogged by 



