1878.] MR. D. G. ELLIOT ON THE PTEROCLIDiE. 235 



Gallinaceous birds (Alectoromorpha) on the other, supplying the link 

 which connects these two great divisions, and with them constitutes 

 the Ga lo-Columbine series. The Pteroclidie resemble the Alecto- 

 romorphae in their skull, palatines, maxillo-palatines, and bill j but 

 the pterygoid and basipterygoid processes, sternum, furcula, coracoid, 

 and fore limb are like those of the Pigeon. The foot, with its 

 almost absent hallux (entirely wanting in Syrrhaptes), and the short 

 tarso-metatarsus are, however, very unlike a Pigeon's. The vocal 

 organs, as shown by Mr. Parker 1 ," are the same as a Pigeon's; the 

 trachea is cartilaginous, and possesses a pair of laryngeal muscles 

 at its bifurcation ; but the crop, gizzard, gall-bladder, and small 

 intestines are like those of Gallinaceous birds. The ceeca coli are 

 very voluminous, but have twelve continuous longitudinal folds in 

 their mucous membrane, instead of seven as in Lagopus. The 

 proventricular glands, however, are Pigeon-like, The pterylosis of 

 the baud-Grouse, although very similar to that of a Pi-eon, differs 

 somewhat on its dorsal surface. The lateral neck-spaces we shorter 

 only reaching to the beginning of the neck; the superior wing- space 

 is absent ; the lumbar tracts coalesce with the posterior part of the 

 dorsal tract, which latter also joins the plumage of the tibia. In 

 some species the narrow spinal tract is wanting. The Pteroclidaj 

 also differ from the Pigeons in possessing an after-shaft on the 

 contour feathers, aud from the Gallinaceous birds in havin* a 

 naked oil-gland. & 



From the above it will be clearly seen how intermediate these 

 singular birds are of the two great groups between which they are 

 placed. In some of their characters they are also pluvialine and 

 heir flight is especially Plover-like ; but in their method of drinkino- 

 they resemble the Pigeons, as the bill is thrust up to the nostril! 

 into the water, and retained there until the bird's thirst is allayed 

 Ihe members of the two genera adopted for this family closely 

 resemble each other m their outward shape, being generally rather 

 heavy of body, with long pointed wings and extremely short legs 

 and toes, apparently quite disproportionate in size to the rest of 

 the bird. The species, therefore, are awkward when on the ground 

 run clumsily, and appear to great disadvantage; but on the win* 

 they move rapidly and gracefully. The bill, though small, is strong 

 and Grouse-shaped ; in Pterocles the tarsi are feathered in front • iu 

 Syrrhaptes both tarsi aud toes are completely covered with feathers 

 as m the winter coat of the Ptarmigan. I have arranged the 

 members of Pterocles in two divisions, distinguished by the pre- 

 sence or absence of a conspicuous band across the breast. The first 

 ot these, without a pectoral band, contains five species, all but one 

 having the breast of a uniform coloration. 



The second division, with a pectoral band, possesses nine species, 

 having, as a rule, a very different style of coloration from those in 

 the other section of the genus. In the remaining genus Syrrhaptes, 

 but two species are as yet known, separated in their outward appear- 

 ance from their relations in Pterocles by the feathered leg and foot 

 1 Trans. Zool. Soc. vol. v. p. 204. 



