PTEROCLIDJS. 241 



PTEROCLID^. 



286. Pterocles bicinctus, Temm. Double-banded Sand-Grouse. 



Ptcrodes bieinctus, Temminck's Hist. Nat. des Pigeons et Gallinac^s, 

 vol. iii. p. 247. 

 „ „ Strickland & Sclater, Birds Daniar., Oontr. Om. 



1852, p. 157. 

 „ „ Layard's Cat. No. 536. 



,, „ Chapman's Travels in S. Afr., App. p. 411. 



„ „ Gray's Hand-list of Birds, No. 9460. 



This is perhaps the most common species of Sand 

 Grouse in Damara and Great Namaqua Land, where con- 

 siderable numbers may be seen, during the dry season, 

 at any of the few permanent waters which exist in those 

 countries, and which these birds frequent in large flocks 

 about dusk and during the early part of the night, as 

 well as sometimes also at early dawn ; they remain only 

 a short time at the water, and announce their arrival and 

 departure by incessant sharp cries. When dispersed on 

 their feeding-grounds, they are generally found in pairs, 

 or at most two or three together. They feed chiefly on 

 the seeds of grass, as well as on other seeds and berries, 

 and mingle with their food considerable quantities of 

 coarse sand. Their flesh is very white but excessively 

 tough; it may, however, be somewhat improved by 

 divesting the bird of its skin before cooking it. The 

 eggs of this species are from two to three in number, 

 laid upon the bare sand, and of a pinkish-yellow colour, 

 spotted with grey and reddish brown. 



The iris is deep red, the skin round the eye chrome- 

 yellow, the bill yellowish brown, the legs and toes pale 

 dull yellow. 



R 



