GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. 179 



This Sand Grouse is fifteen inches long, mthout including the longest tail-feathers, and twenty- 

 three inches broad, exclusive of the bristle-like wing-quills ; the wing measures seven inches, and the 

 tail four inches and a half, or seven inches inclusive of its central tail-feathers. The female is shorter 

 and more slender than her mate. In this species, the top of the head and a line that commences at 

 the eyes and passes over the sides of the throat are dark grey ; the region of the head is separated 

 from the greyish yellow breast by a band formed of delicate black and white lines ; the upper belly is 

 brownish black, its lower portion and the feathers of the middle tail-covers light grey ; the throat, 

 brow a broad stripe over the eyes, and the back are clay-yellow, the latter striped with a deeper 

 shade. The quills are dark grey, those at the exterior being bordered with black on the outer, and 

 the rest with grey on the inner web ; the shoulder-feathers are of a brownish hue, edged with yellow, 

 and tipped with white, and those on the inner wing-covers yellowish bro-vMi, tipped with blackish 

 brown ; the plumage on the tarsi is yellowish white. The female is without the band upon her 

 breast, and is of a paler shade upon the face and lower belly ; her plumage is also rather spotted than 

 striped. 



These singular looking birds, respecting whose habits we have only recently received rehable 

 information, inhabit Southern Europe, Africa, and Asia, living in dry sandy deserts, bare or rocky 

 plains, or bushy or woody grounds, and are especially numerous in the neighbourhood of low hills. 

 They are usually met with singly, or in pairs, except when such as occupy the desert plains resort to 

 water, which they do in flocks. When flushed, they rise with a low chuckling call, fly for a short 

 distance, and then alight. If followed, they fun along the ground for a few steps, and with difficulty 

 rise again. " Others, however," Dr. Smith tells us, " fly to a great height and suddenly descend, when 

 they approach the water on their feeding grounds ; sometimes this descent is not commenced till they 

 are directly over the spot on which they purpose to alight. On such occasions they are obliged to 

 make a circular or semi-circular sweep, before they can reach the desired locality." Their food consists 

 of hard seeds, bulbs, and insects, mixed with fine gravel. The two eggs which are deposited on the 

 bare ground are elliptical in form, about seventeen or eighteen lines long by twelve or thirteen lines 

 broad at their centre, and have a greenish-greyish yellow shell, marked, dotted, and streaked with 

 various shades of greyish brown ; in some instances one end of the egg is decorated with a viTeath 

 of spots. 



The GROUSE TRIBE {TetraonidcB) constitute the richest group of the entire order. These 

 birds have a compact body, short neck, small head, and short powerful beak, with a thick base. The 

 foot is short, the tarsus moderate; the -wing of medium length, and usually much rounded; the 

 tail is generally straight, but in some instances pointed or incised at its extremity. The thick 

 plumage in most species extends over the entire body, even to the toes ; some few also exhibit bare 

 patches of brightly-tinted skin. The sexes are nearly alike in colour. The members of this tribe 

 inhabit almost every latitude of the globe. 



The GROUSE PROPER {Tetraoncs) are recognisable by their powerful, compact bodies, short, 

 or moderate-sized wings, and short straight tail ; the latter, however, is occasionally long, and either 

 wedge-shaped or forked at its extremity. The bill is strong, thick, short, and much vaulted, and the 

 foot low and powerful, with more or less well-feathered tarsus. The plumage is thick and rich, the 

 brow and nape often exhibit bare patches, covered with small horny plates of a bright red colour. 

 The toes of some species are covered with a short and remarkable horny growth. 



These birds are met with throughout the whole of Europe, Asia, and Nortli America, but are 

 quite unknov\'n in Africa. All are, without exception, stationary in their habits, and rarely undertake 



