1878.] MR. D. G. ELLIOT ON THE PTEROCLIDjE. 251 



Pin-tailed Grous, Lath. Gen. Hist. B. vol. viii. (1823) p. 250. 



Pterocles alchata, Licht. Verz. Doubl. p. 64 ( 1823) ; Tristr. Proc. 

 Zool. Soc. (1864) p. 449 ; Jerd. B. Ind. vol. iii. p. 500 (1864) ; 

 Gould, B. Eur. pi. 258; Blyth, Cat. B. Mus. Asiat. Soc. (1849) p. 

 249 ; Gray, Geu. B. vol. iii. p. 518; Reich. Syn. Av. (1851) Gallinse, 

 pi. ccvii. figs. 1813-14 ; Heugl. Syst. Uebers. Vog. Nordost-Afr. 

 (1855) p. 303; Salv. Ibis (1859) p. 352; Tristr. Ibis (1860) p. 70 ; 

 Powvs, Ibis (1860) p. 239; Wright, Ibis (1864) p. 139; Lilford, 

 Ibis "(1866) p. 379; Bartl. Proc. Zool. Soc. (1866) p. 78; Drake 

 Ibis (1867) p. 428; Beaven, Ibis (1868) p. 377; Smith, Ibis (1868) 

 p. 45 1 ; Hume, Str. Feath. ( 1 873) vol. i. p. 22 1 ; Garrod, Proc. Zool. 

 Soc. (1873) p. 468; Severzov, Journ. fiir Ornith. (1873) pp. 385, 

 386 ; Von Heugl. Ornith. Nordost-Afr. (1873) vol. ii. p. 853. 



Tetrao chata, Pall. Zoogr. Rosso- Asiat. vol. ii. p. 73 (1831). 



Pterocles caspius, Menetr. Cat. Rais. de Zool. p. 47 (1832). 



Pteroclurus alchata, Bon. Compt. Rend. vol. xlii. p. 880 (1856). 



El- Guettha Arab (Tristram) . Ganga in Spain (Lilford). El Koudre 

 in Tangiers (Drake). Gorticol in Portugal (Smitb). 



Hab. Middle Asia, Afghanistan, Syria, Spain, N. Africa (Blyth) ; 

 Portugal (Smith) ; common in Spain (Lelford) ; Tangier (Drake) ; 

 Harakta Plains of Eastern Atlas (Salvin) ; Malta (Wright) ; Pales- 

 tine (Tristram) ; Punjaub and Sindh (Jerdori) ; Jacobadad, Sindh, 

 Nundan, near Altock, Peshawur valley, Abbotabad, and isolated 

 localities in Huzara (Hume) ; Western Persia (Be Filippi). 



Jerdon says that this is a rare bird in India, only a few finding 

 their way across the Sutlej. It flies in flocks, and is shy and wary. 

 The specific appellation is taken from its Arabic name El-ehata 

 or El-katta ; and in India there does not seem to be any special 

 native name for the bird. 



Tristram found this Sand-Grouse in vast flocks in winter in the 

 Mzab and Tonarick country ; and, except in the breeding-season, 

 it was very difficult to approach, and when packed it is necessary 

 to be well-mounted to get a second shot. It is even more vigo- 

 rous upon the wing than P. arenarius, and when on the ground 

 is very garrulous. Its breeding-habits are exactly the same as 

 those of the species just named ; but the egg has a much richer 

 fawn-coloured tint, and is covered and sometimes zoned with large 

 maroon-red blotches. 



In Spain, as stated by Lord Lilford (I. c), this species, as well as 

 P. arenarius, is common in many parts of the Castilles, La Mancha, 

 Murcia, Andalusia, Estremadura, and in some districts of Aragon 

 and Catalonia. They delight in bare and stony ground ; and even 

 in " hungry Spain " they are considered " muy male carne." 



Male. Top of head and nape dark greyish brown ; superciliary 

 stripe and sides of the throat deep orange ; ear-coverts yellowish ; 

 a black line goes from behind the eye and down the sides of the 

 nape. Throat black ; upper part of breast greenish buff; rest of 

 breast chestnut, bounded above and below with a narrow black hue ; 

 remainder of underparts white. The back has the feathers vinous at 

 base, rest pale yellowish green, with a yellowish spot at tip. 



