244 MR. D. G. ELLIOT ON THE PTEROCLIDjE. [Feb. 19, 



Pteroeles seneg alus, Shelley, B.Egypt (1872) p. 220; Hume, 

 Str. Feath. (18/3) vol. i. p. 221 ; James, Str. Feath. vol. iii. (1875) 

 p. 418; Butler, Str. Feath. (1875) vol. iii. p. 4, (1877) vol. v. 

 p. 231. 



Fukee, Somali (Speke). 



Hab. Egypt {Shelley) ; extreme south of the Sahara (Tristram) ; 

 Somali country, East Africa (Speke) ; Egypt and Nubia (Riippell) ; 

 Palestine (Tristram) ; Sindh, Northern Guzerat, along the shores 

 of the Bun n of Cutch (Hume). 



Canon Tristram states that this species is confined to the extreme 

 south of the Sahara, but is more plentiful there than P. coronatus. 

 He obtained one nest ; and the egg had a ground-colour similar to 

 that of P. alchata, but was scarcely more than half the size, and 

 had very faint brown spots. 



In the Somali country Capt. Speke met with this Sand-Grouse on 

 the plateau in large flocks. In Sindh Mr. Hume found this species 

 in certain localities to be very numerous. Their habits are very 

 much like those of other Sand-Grouse, keeping together in parties 

 of from fifty to sixty ; and very often in winter a flock consists of one 

 sex only. They trot about on the dry soil, picking up seeds aud 

 insects, or squat and enjoy the warmth of the morning sun. They 

 seemed to be less pugnacious than some of the other species, as, 

 although he watched them closely, he did not observe the perpetual 

 skirmishing among the males, such as he had noticed took place with 

 those of P. arenarius in the Punjaub. It is probable that this 

 species breeds in Sindh. 



Male. General plumage sandy buff. Lores and a band encircling 

 the back of the head pearly grey. Underparts sandy-buff, washed 

 with grey on the breast. Middle of abdomen black. Basal portion 

 of scapulars, greater wing-coverts, and secondaries dark brown, 

 tips buff. Primaries pale buff, graduating into brownish black 

 towards the tips, which are buff. Central rectrices lengthened 

 beyond the rest, pale buff, apical half black ; lateral ones greyish 

 brown, with a subterminal black band and white tips. Bill and feet 

 lead-colour. 



Total length 1 2\ inches, wing 7\, tail § , bill along gape g. 



Female. Throat and sides of neck orange, lighter on the chin. 

 Entire upper parts and wings sandy-buff, covered with black spots. 

 Primaries sandy-buff, graduating into dark brown near the ends, and 

 tipped with pale buff. Underparts bright buff, spotted on the breast 

 with dark brown. Centre of abdomen black. Upper tail-coverts 

 like the back. Median rectrices buff, faintly barred with black, 

 their elongated tips brownish-black. Lateral feathers pale brown, 

 lightest on the outer webs, with a subterminal brownish-black bar, 

 and white tips. Bill dark horn-colour. Feet dark brown. 



Total length 1 1| inches, wing 8, tail 4-f, bill at gape f . 



5. Pterocles variegatus. 



Pteroeles variegatus, Burch. Trav. S. Afr. vol. ii. p. 345 (1822) ; 

 Gray, Gen. B. vol. iii. p. 519 (1849); Beich. Syn. Av. Gallinee 



