PALLAS’S SAND GROUSE. 57 
in the house of Signore Dal Fiume, being fed on millet and other 
seeds. The second specimen was eaten. A pair was shot at 
Santareangclo ; the stomach of the male contained seeds and 
grains of sand, but that of the female was empty. The flesh 
was well-flavoured, but tough. (Tom. cit. p. 235). 
France.—A great number of Sand Grouse were seen west of 
Dunkerque, in the direction of Mardyck. Those which were 
killed were sold to different museums, and others were kept 
alive in cages. There are two stuffed specimens at Carpentier’s, 
the gunmaker, at Dunkerque. Sand Grouse were also seen on 
the 28th of May, on the Dunes of Noirmontier, Dieu, and 
Olonne, in La Vendée (several hundreds, of which three were 
killed); on the 31st of May, near Calais, ten specimens, one 
killed; at the beginning of June, near Nantes in Brittany, and 
in the middle of June, in the north of the Landes. (Tom. cit. 
p- 236.) 
ScHLEswie.—First observed in Schleswig, on the “ Schubyer 
Fields,” between the middle and end of April. At this time 
they did not remain permanently, but seemed as if making 
reconnaisances in flocks of from twenty to thirty birds, and 
were only occasionally to be met with. After the birds were 
protected by the Government, the large estate owners, sports- 
men, and others who were interested in birds took the new 
comers under their special protection, hoping that they might 
obtain a new game-bird, should it become acclimatized. They 
were left unmolested, and all shooting and unnecessary disturbance 
was avoided in their neighbourhood. These birds do not appear 
to be so shy in their nature as Partridges, and they soon gained 
confidence, and took possession of a tract of meadows, pastures 
and heaths which, perhaps, were not very unlike the steppes. 
Flocks of the size mentioned, were noticed until the month of 
May was far advanced. The birds were so tame that they 
allowed themselves to be approached within a few paces; they 
sat quite still, and could be readily observed. Several instances 
of their breeding were noticed in May and June. Nests were 
found in grassy places (mostly in meadow land) containing one, 
four, five, seven, and nine eggs. [May not these have been 
nests of the Landrail ?—Ep.] The meadows lie high, and are 
dry, rather than damp; they are not marshy meadows on 
low-lying rivers. Nests of eggs were also found in grassy places 
ZOOLOGIST.—FEB. 1889. F 
