PTEEOCLETES.— PTEEOCLID^. 55 



(ii. ) Tail-feathers rvdimentary, amd minced with wpfer tail-coverts. 

 Bill round, amd tapering to a point. 

 The genus Rhynchotus, hind toe rather long. Primaries uniform, rufous. Two species 

 varying from 14"-17". Brazil and Bolivia to Argentina. 



The genus Nothoprocta, hind toe short. Primaries not uniform, rufous. Eight species 

 varying from 9J"-13i". Ecuador to Chili and Argentina, 



Bill almost straight and not tapering. 



The genus Nothura, with upper tail-coverts not very long. Seven species, varying from 

 7J"-11". S. Brazil and Bolivia to Patagonia. 



The genus Taoniscus, with upper tail-coverts very long and ahundant. One species, 6". 

 Paraguay and S. Brazil. 



Subfamily TiNAMOTlDiNiE. 



With no hind toe, two genera (three species). 



The genus Calopezus, tarsus with transverse scales. One species, 144". Argentina and Lower 

 Uruguay. 



The genus Tinamotis, tarsus with hexagonal scales. Two species, varying from 15i"-18". The 

 Andes to Peru (B.M. Oat. xxvi.; 496-569). 



Order PTEROCLETES. 



Inner notch of breast-bone sometimes reduced to a foramen. Wings long and 

 pointed. First or second quill longest. Eleven primaries. Fifth secondary 

 wanting. 

 Hind toe raised. Tarsus feathered ( Pterocles . Sand-Geousb. 



in front. Toes naked . , I PTEBOCLTJRtrs , '\ 



No hind toe. Tarsus feathered » > Pintail Sand-Geouse, 



throughout. Toes feathered . J ' / 



Family PTEEOCLID^. Sand-Geouse. 



Classed midway between the Pigeons and game birds of the Grouse family. 

 Found in Southern Europe, Africa, and Asia, but not E. of Bay of Bengal. 

 Placed by Jerdon as a distinct natural family. Gray groups them as a subfamily 

 of Tetraonidse, with which they only agree in having feathered tarsus. 



Tarsus feathered in front. Wings long and pointed. First or second quiU 

 longest. Hind toe raised, very short or none. Orbits more or less nude. Plumage 

 pale yellow, variegated with brown. After-shaft. Primaries eleven. Fifth second- 

 ary wanting. Tail of sixteen feathers {P. liehtensteini excepted). Generally found 

 in flocks in open plains. Flight rapid. Fly to water regularly morning and 

 evening. Feed on seeds. Sexes differ. Generally three eggs, elliptical, pale 

 olive, double-spotted brown and purple. Young are hatched covered with down. 

 As in true Grouse, the flesh of breast is of two colours, white near the bone and 

 dark in outer part. 



Genus PTEROCLES. 



irTc/)6i'= a feather; KX6/s=a bar. 



Male uniformly coloured. — Female more or less spotted or barred. First and 

 second quiUs longest. Toes bare. Minute hind toe raised. Tarsus feathered in 

 front, reticulated behind. Tail feathers graduated. 



