1878.] MR. D. G. ELLIOT ON THE PTEROCL1D.E. 247 



In flocks it is stated that one or other sex greatly preponderates ■ 

 sometimes seven females are obtained to one male, and vice versa. ' 

 Canon Tristram states (I.e.) that this species is universally dis- 

 tributed throughout the Sahara, except in the extreme south, Where 

 it gives place to P. senegalus. It has so much of the Plover-cha- 

 racter that he took the first covey that he saw for large Plovers 

 He did not find it so wary as P. alchata; but when approached 

 closely it would suddenly rise to a great height and fly for a long 

 distance. The species lays three eggs of a pale fawn-colour, with 

 obsolete pale brown blotches; they are elliptical in shape, and are 

 placed two in a line, and the third lengthwise outside, in a depression 

 in the ground. He observed that when the hen was sitting one win- 

 was spread out to cover the eggs ; and she thus presented a grotesque 

 lopsided appearance. The flesh, although extremely white, was very 

 poor and dry, without any flavour. In support of this testimony 



r^iTJW.™ bl f I ,a P er " 0u the Bird * of Oudh and Kuma- 

 o.i that this bird obtained by him near Hurdue, was uneatable 



sand " "" ^ DativeS Saj ' " that the ? live U P°» 



Male. Top of head and occiput dark brownish grey, with a pearly 

 tinge, becoming a lighter grey on loral space, around the eye, and 

 ear-coverts. Upper part of throat and sides of neck chestnut, be- 

 coming deep orange towards the back of the neck. Lower part of 

 throat in front black Breast pearly grey, crossed on the lower part 

 by a rather broad black band, succeeded by another of rich buff 



Tefhltl 8 W1 ? V th /, Sld r near the wiu S S - Rest of ""departs 

 jet-black. Feathers of the back and wing-coverts are rich buff, each 



tea her with a subterminal greyish-black bar, and tipped with orange- 

 yellow. Secondaries deep buff, the terminal third of outer web 

 bright orange ; some of the inner ones with a subterminal greyish- 

 black bar like the coverts, and some with this colour only along the 

 shaft. Greater wing-coverts orange-yellcw on their apical third . 

 Primaries greyish black. Upper tail-coverts like the back; under 

 coverts black, tipped with white. Rectrices pale rufous, crossed 

 with narrow black bars, and tips white. Thighs black ; tarsi 

 covered ,n front with buffy white feathers. Bill bluish. Feet 



bdlTng gape S f I" ™' ^ ^ ' '" ^ ^ * ** 4 *' 

 Female. TopV head and occiput rufous, streaked with black. 

 Upper part of throat and sides of head yellowish white, the feathers 

 of the lores and ear-coverts with a fine central black streak- lower 

 part of throat crossed by a blackish band. Breast rich buff, becoming 

 buffy white near the abdomen, the feathers of the upper part, with 



the' 1 I """J r d *? & \ the ^ bkck - A bla <* b ™d cms e 

 the lower part beneath which there are no spots. Rest of under- 

 pays black Back and wings deep buff, crossed irregularly with 

 narrow black lines ; the greater coverts tipped with orange. Uo , - 

 danes deep buff, barred narrowly with black, and all but the imier- 



h'ei tin? W P a bl '° ad b3n u d £ deP P ° ra "8 e ° n the outer ■*■ a* 

 "»en tips. 1 rimanes greyish black, edges whitish. Rectrices very 



