THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC. 



277 



breeds in the clefts on the ground ; and in the open steppes it constructs its 

 nest in the old holes dug out by a species of Lagomys, and probably passes 

 the night in similar places. We did not succeed in finding any nests, but 

 met with the fledged young ones for the first time on the 21st of June. In 

 spring it usually keeps in pairs, but at all other seasons in small companies 

 of from four to six specimens, probably in broods. They are almost 

 continually on the ground ; and they run very fast, often stooping down like 

 the Chats, especially in spring, when the male and female are together. 

 Their most characteristic habit consists in incessantly digging the ground 

 with their beaks ; this they do when walking, running, and always after 

 alighting on a fresh-chosen locality. This is probably the manner in which 

 they search for insects, which were the only things that we found in their 

 stomachs. They never fly long distances, but usually close to the ground, 

 uttering at intervals a squeaking note. They are very tame ; and it several 

 times happened that, when a bird was shot, the remainder of the flock would 

 not fly away, but hopped about the dead one. 

 Measurements : — 









<}. 



?• 



in. 



in. 



Length ...... 7 



6-7 



Width .... 







10-5 



10-3 



Wing . . . 







3-57 



3-3 



Tail .... 







2-62 



2-25 



Gape . . . 







104 



0-91 



Tarsus . . , 







11 



107 



Middle toe . . . 







057 



0-58 



its claw . 







032 



0-29 



Hind toe 







0-37 



0-36 



its claw 







0-35 



0-34 



Eyes brown ; culmen and legs black : in the young the culmen is 

 yellowish green at the base, to about half its length, legs blackish brown. 



