Order Pterocletes. 



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ORDER PTEROCLETES. 



THE Sand-Grouse constitute a remarkably distinct group, allied to the 

 gallinaceous birds, the Pigeons and the Plovers, but distinctly separated 

 from each. The family contains two distinct genera. The better known Sand- 

 Grouse belong to genus Pterocles, of which there are about fifteen distinct species, 

 two of which, the P. arenarius, the Black-tailed Sand-Grouse, and the P. alchata, 

 the Pin-tailed Sand-Grouse, inhabit the south of Europe, but have not been known 

 to occur in England. The other genus is that which has been named Syrrhaples, 

 of which only two species are known, both of which are inhabitants of eastern 

 and central Asia. One species, Pallas' Sand-Grouse, an inhabitant of the deserts 

 of North China, has on more than one occasion visited Europe, and even extended 

 into Great Britain in large numbers. These birds are remarkably distinguished 

 from all others by the form of the foot, the three toes being united together into 

 a single pad, as indicated by the name Syrrhaptes, signifying, sewn together. This 

 remarkable structure is shewn in the following engravings, which represent the 

 upper and under surfaces of the foot of the Syrrhaptes paradoxus, Pallas' Sand- 

 Grouse. The birds of the genus are also remarkable for the extreme elongation 

 of the central tail and first primary wing feathers. 



Foot of Pallas' Sand-Grouse. 



UPPER SURFACE. 



UNDER SURFACE. 



