58 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
on the heaths. The nests are like those of the Lapwing, being 
merely a thin layer of grass stems, on which the eggs are laid. 
These are blotched with brown, and resemble the eggs of the 
Woodcock. ‘The nests are arranged in groups, so that we may 
regard the birds as gregarious during the breeding season, which 
is rarely the case with other birds, and they were often seen 
sitting in pairs on the eggs, when they were quiet, and easily 
observed. During the hay harvest, from the end of June to 
the middle of July and later, young Sand Grouse were often 
seen while mowing was going on. Incubated eggs and deserted 
nests were also found, but were not further observed. The wet 
and cold summer must have been very unfavourable to the 
breeding of the Sand Grouse; for abandoned Partridges’ nests, 
containing from fifteen to twenty eggs, were frequently observed. 
The Raven was found to be an enemy to the Grouse, as well as 
to the eggs and young. Owing to the presence of carnivorous 
vermin, no weak or sickly specimens were found, as was the case 
in other places. The Sand Grouse were seldom seen in the 
corn-fields, which leads to the inference that they generally 
feed upon grass-seeds. It was difficult to continue to observe 
them, owing to the size and extent of the plains, and also 
on account of the rainy summer which prevented many observa- 
tions on these birds which might have been of importance. 
They finally congregated in large flocks about the middle of 
September, when two flocks of forty and sixty birds were seen 
several times. The larger size of the flocks in autumn, is 
probably due to the young birds having joined them. The 
young and old birds may be distinguished from each other in 
the flocks, as the former are not full-grown. Although the flocks 
have assembled a long time, as if they were on the point of 
migrating, the birds are still here (Nov. 26). They would probably 
survive a mild winter; but it is doubtful whether they would live 
through so severe a winter as the last. The note of the bird is 
not unlike the hoarse cry of the Sea Gull, but not so piercing.* 
They constantly utter it- when on the wing. (Copied from the 

* « Die Stimme der Vogel ist dem heiseren Schrei der Moéven nicht 
uniihnlich aber nicht so durch dringend.” This is a remarkable statement, 
and conflicts entirely with what has been written of the note of this. Sand 
Grouse by English ornithologists.x—Ep. 
