182 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 
some in the plains of Halfa grass, and if there be a bare 
place of an acre or two near to tents, it is a likely haunt for 
them. At a place of that kind at Gow I saw a flock of 
these Sandgrouse and two tame Pigeons, apparently frater- 
nising together very amicably.* It surprised me though I 
knew their affinity. 
The belly of a hen I shot on the gth of March was entirely 
black. I do not think it was the breeding plumage. 
127, SENEGAL SAND-GROUSE, Plerocles senegallus (Linn.) 
Symbolce Physicce, pl. XV. “Gutta.” 
The Sand-Grouse at Gebel Silsilis were, I believe, all of 
this species, but they were so shy that we only obtained 
two. At Radamr near Keneh I shot five, and we obtained 
a few more when we returned to Gow, where we had not 
observed this species in coming up. The furthest north 
that we saw them on the river was at Benisouef, but they 
come. down to the Faioum, where I was at no loss to 
recognise one fine flock by their yellow colour. The note 
is also different: they generally say “weep gutta,” and the 
Singed Sand-Grouse I believe only say “gutta.” One 
generally saw them early in the morning, flying high up 
and very wild. They are said to pass the day in the desert, 
going down to the river to drink in the early morning and 
in the evening. No doubt they do drink a great deal: 
some we killed at Gow had as much as a table-spoonful of 
water in their crops. I think it probable that they are 
gregarious all the year round, though I am ignorant of 
their habits after the hatching season. 
® T possess a Ruff which was shot in Shetland while feeding with 
some tame Pigeons. The Turnstone has been shot in England in the 
same companionship (cf. Zoologist, 2652). 
