Family PTEROCLID^. Genus Syrrhaptes. 



PALLAS'S SAND GROUSE. 



SYRRHAPTES PARADOXUS— (Palhs). 



Geographical Distribution.— 5r?VM>% .• Appears at long 

 and uncertain intervals and in very irregular numbers. First 

 noticed as a British bird in 1859, examples occurring in Norfolk, 

 Kent, and North Wales. Again occurred in 1863, when numbers 

 found their way to almost every county of Great Britain, and to 

 the north-west of Ireland, to the Scilly Islands, the Shetlands, 

 and the Faroes. Again occurred in 1872, a flock visiting 

 Northumberland, and a smaller party the south of Scotland-; 

 and again in May (Norfolk), and October (Co. Kildare, Ireland), 

 1876. Last great visitation in 1888. Many attempts to breed 

 have been made, some apparently successful. Foreign : Just as 

 irregular and uncertain in its visits to Europe as to our islands. 

 Has been observed in Poland, Denmark, Holland, Scandinavia, 

 Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Turkey, Russia, etc. 

 The habitat of this species is Central Asia, breeding in North- 

 east Turkestan, Mongolia, and Dauria, wintering in West Turke- 

 stan and the Kirghiz Steppes, and occasionally in North China. 



Allied Forms. — None, very closely related, with the exception 

 of Syrrhaptes thibetanus, an inhabitant of the table-lands of Tibet, 

 a larger species. 



Time during which Pallas's Sand Grouse may be 

 taken. — The close time (three years) provided for this species 

 by special Act of Parliament has now ceased. Not being a 

 scheduled species, it may be legally shot from August ist to 

 March ist ; otherwise by authority of owner or occupier of land. 



Habits. — The details concerning the habits of Pallas's Sand 

 Grouse are very meagre, and no British naturalist, so far as I am 

 aware, has yet studied them in the far-away Eastern home of this 



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