PALLAS’S SAND GROUSE IN LANCASHIRE. 55 
tenth is hidden by the coverts. The black on the new primaries, 
not so well defined in outline as in those of the males, giving the 
centre of these feathers a mottled appearance. Abdominal band 
dark umber; gular band distinct; no trace of chest-band. This 
is the only bird which shows any new contour feathers. 
I have not met with a live Sand Grouse in Lancashire; but 
on the 12th September I had the pleasure of seeing the flock of 
seventy-three at Morston, Norfolk, referred to by Mr. Southwell 
(Zool. 1888, p. 446). The birds were put up at least 600 yards 
from the place where we stood, and passed within 800 or 400 
yards of us. We could hear the call-notes soon after the birds 
rose, but it was a difficult matter to distinguish the note on 
account of the number of birds calling at the same time. Shortly 
afterwards, however, two birds passed us within 150 yards; we 
then put up three, one, and thirteen,—portions of the large flock 
which had broken up,—each bird calling as it flew. We all thought 
the note was very like the “chuck” of the breeding Snipe, with 
a slight whistling intonation, as described by Mr. Southwell (Zool. 
1888, p. 453), uttered at intervals of about a second. The note 
has a more decided short “ chuck,” and less of the whistle than 
has Tringa canutus. 
I have not heard that these birds have made any attempts to 
nestin the county. A thin-shelled, abnormally-shaped egg, found 
in a field on St. Michael’s Moss, which the Sand Grouse had 
frequented, is pronounced by Mr. Edward Bidwill, to whom 
I forwarded it, to be that of a Lapwing. 
My best thanks are due to Mr. Hugh P. Hornby, Mr. Francis 
Nicholson, Mr. Harry Hoyle, and Mr. J. Moorcroft for informa- 
tion kindly supplied, and also to Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., and 
Mr. T. Southwell for the kindness shown me during my visit to 
Norfolk, when I had an opportunity of seeing something of the 
Sand Grouse in a state of nature. 
