WHITE SHEATH-BILL.— C/iio)us a!6a. 



The female Sand Grouse makes no nest, but lays lier eggs, generally aLout two or tliree 

 in number, on the bare ground. The young birds are very strong of foot, and as soon as 

 their plumage has dried after their exit from the shell, they run about with their mother, 

 and can afterwards lead a vagrant life. 



The male bird has its forehead wliitish, then a black patch and then wliite. The upper 

 part of the plumage is dusky brown, mottled with buff; and its tail is buff, barred profusely 

 with blackish brown, the tip being buff, and the last bar very broad and black. The 

 breast is pale butf, and between the breast and abdomen runs a semilunar white band, 

 reaching up to the shoulders. Just below the white there is an equally conspicuous black 

 band, also running up under the wings to the shoulders. The abdomen and flanks are 

 pale buff, mottled transversely with black-brown. In the female the plumage is of a more 

 yellow cast, the black patch on the forehead and black band round the chest are wanting, 

 and the white band has a grey tinge. 



Another curious group of birds is known by the title of Sheath-bills, on account of 

 the remarkable sheath of horny substance, which is situated on the base of the bill, and 

 under which lie the nostrils. The use of this appendage is ratlier obscure. The whole of 

 the bill is short and stout, and it is considerably arched towards the tip. 



One of the commonest species of this group is the White Sheath-bill, a native of 

 Australia, New Zealand, and neighbouring islands. 



This bird is almost exclusively found upon the coasts, finding its food among the 

 molluscs, small crustaceas, and bestranded fish and other similar substances. Perhaps, 

 under some circumstances, it may subsist on carrion, and thereby give an evil flavour to 

 its flesh, as there are very contradictory reports as to its value for the table, some specimens 



