420 ZOOLOGY. 



This bird has precisely the same habits as the 

 closely allied Pt. fasciatus of India. It is rarely 

 if ever seen on open sandy plains ; like Pt. exustus, 

 it keeps to bush and thin tree jungle, and is usually 

 found solitary, in pairs, or at the most two or three 

 pairs together. I once came upon a considerable flock, 

 in January, and possibly at that time these birds 

 may collect in large numbers ; but in May, June, July, 

 and August, it was rare to see more than four together, 

 except about watering-places. When disturbed the Sand- 

 Grouse rises with a sharp cackling cry, affording a very 

 diflScult shot. It does not rise high, and usually settles 

 again after a short flight. 



All kinds of Pterocles, as is well known, fly to 

 water at particular hours in the day, the hours varying 

 with different species. Pt. exustus drinks about 9 a.m. 

 and 4 p.m. In the present case the drinking-hour 

 is at daybreak in the morning and at dusk in the 

 evening, as is also the case with the Indian Pt. fasci- 

 atus, the crepuscular habits of which are mentioned 

 by Jerdon ("Birds of India," vol. ii. p. 498), and have 

 been noticed by myself also. In the semi-desert country 

 west and north-west of Massowa, in which Pt. Lich- 

 tensteini abounds, and there are but very few places 

 where water is found, the scene at each spring of an 

 evening, after a hot day especially, is very interestiug. 

 At Saati, Ailat, and Ain there was a constant rush of these 

 birds from sunset till dark, and again in the morning 

 before sunrise. Singly and in smaU flocks, uttering their 

 peculiar " queep-queep "-like note, they flew up and down 



