PTEROCLES GUTTURALIS.— Smith. 



AvES. — Plate XXXI. (Female.) 



For the description of this bird see the letter-press accompanying Plate III. 



The egg is represented of the natural size, and each female lays two or three 

 once or oftener during the warm season. These they deposit, without 

 any care, upon the bare ground, and it is only when level spots fitted to the 

 reception of eggs cannot readily be obtained that the birds of this genus 

 bestow any labour on the preparation of nestling places. Nothing is ever 

 interposed between the eggs and the soil, indeed whatever is calculated to 

 separate them is carefully avoided. Almost the instant the young birds escape 

 from the shell they take to a wandering life, and remove from place to place 

 with their parents in quest of food. 



Though we find species oi Pterocles beyond the confines of Afi'ica, yet the majority of those 

 now known are pecuhar to it. The regions south of the equator have furnished nearly as many 

 species as those to the north of it ; and both will doubtless afford many additional ones when 

 the yet unknown districts shall have been thoroughly explored. Each of the known species, as 

 far as our observations go, has a limited range, and should the ranges of such as inhabit the 

 unexplored tracts of the interior not be greater, we may in time expect great additions to the 

 present list. The following are the African species with which we are at present acquainted. 



Pterocles arenarius, Temm. Barbary and Senegal. 



Pterocles guttatus, Licht. Egypt. 



Pterocles quadricinctus, Temm. Senegal. 



Pterocles coronatus, Licht. Nubia. 



Pterocles Lichtensteinii, Temm. Nubia. 



Pterocles tricinctus, Swain. Senegal. 



Pterocles exustus, Temm. Egypt and Senegal. 



Pterocles tachypetes, Temm. South Africa. 



Pterocles bicinctus, Temm. South Africa. 



Pterocles simplex, Roux. South Africa. 



Pterocles maculosus, BurcheU, South Africa. 



Pterocles gutturalis, Smith, South Africa. 



