THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 11 



this with the greatest ease, being remarkably strong and swift on 

 the wing. When rising from the ground the rattling noise this 

 species makes probably with its wings, is most peculiar, and unlike 

 that of any other bird with which I am acquainted. The note it 

 utters when on the wing, and which may be heard at a great dis- 

 tance, is like the word " catarr " repeated several times, whence 

 the birds' Arabic name " Katarr. " When disturbed, it will travel 

 a great distance, often completely out of sight, before sitting down 

 again, but at its drinking resorts it seems loth to leave the spot 

 until its thirst is quenched. 



The species feeds chiefly upon the seeds and tender shoots of 

 wild plants, though when in the vicinity of cultivated land it will 

 resort thereto in search of grain. As a bird for the table its flesh 

 is by no means to be despised, and though, perhaps, rather drier, 

 may be likened to that of Black-Game, the flesh of the breast 

 being both dark and light as in that bird. Sand-Grouse in 

 general, are difficult to skin, their feathers, like those of Pigeons, 

 being loosely attached to the skin ; and it requires all the taxider- 

 mists' art to make good museum specimens. 



Like all its congeners, the present species is monogamous and 

 rather a late breeder, though not as late as stated by most authors 

 and I have obtained full clutches of eggs by the middle of April. 

 The nesting season of the species, however, continues throughout 

 that and the following month, and probabl}^ also throughout 

 June." 



Although the T^arge Sand-Grouse has never been found breed- 

 ing within Indian limits its eggs were taken by Lieut. E. Barnes 

 at Chaman, Afghanistan, on the 15th May, audit is qiiite possible, 

 therefore, that it may be found breeding occasionally in Sind 

 or the South East Punjab. 



It breeds in Afghanistan, probably also Baluchistan, and in 

 Seistan and Persia, the Caucasus, Asia Minor and more or less 

 throughout South Eussia and the countries bordering on the Medi- 

 terranean, but common only in Spain and North West Africa, in 

 Algeria and Morocco, from which last place I have received eggs. 



The breeding season commences in April, when the birds 

 begin to pair and the eggs are laid in May and June Those 

 in the collection of the British Museum show that in Spain 

 and Northern Africa the breeding season is later than it is in Asia 

 Minor and the rest of its Eastern Kange. All the eggs from the 

 former countries are dated between the 27th May and 15th June, 

 whereas those from the Eastern countries were taken between the 

 9th and 15th May. The eggs in my own collection confirm this 

 as all my Spanish and Algerian eggs are dated between the 30th 

 May and 22nd June, whilst those from the Altai are dated 3rd 

 to 17th Ma}^. Whitaker, however, says " I have taken full 



