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Genus PODOCES. 



Podoces, Fischer, Mem. Soc. Imp. Nat. Mosc. vi. p. 251 (1823). 

 Corvus apud Liechtenstein, in Eversm. Reise Buchara, p. 126 (1823). 

 Pica apnd Wagler, Syst. Av., Pica, sp. 17 (1827). 

 Garrulus apud Gray, Hand-1. of B. ii. p. 3 (1870). 



The present genus is essentially Palsearctic, and contains only four species — Podoces panderi, 

 P. hendersoni, P. biddulphi, and P. humilis, — all of which inhabit parts of Asia. 



With regard to its systematic position, I may remark that Dr. Cabanis, in 1847 (Arch. f. 

 Naturgesch. i. p. 335), and Bonaparte, in 1850 (Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 388), put it under 

 Fregilince. Lichtenstein, in 1854 (Nomencl. Av. Mus. Berol. p. 10), kept it in the same neigh- 

 bourhood, though separating it from Fregilus and Pyrrhocorax by the intervention of various 

 other forms. G. R. Gray, when he wrote his 'Hand-list' and placed it amongst the Jays, had 

 never seen a specimen of the genus. Dr. Sharpe (P. Z. S. 1870, p. 334) expressed a belief that 

 these birds are Desert-Starlings, probably allied to the genus Pastor, or perhaps more strictly 

 to the South-African genus Dilophus, but added that they appear also to exhibit characteristics 

 pointing to the genus Certhilauda. In the Brit. Mus. Catalogue, however, he places Podoces in 

 the subfamily Fregilince. In 1872, Sundevall (Tentamen, p. 42) placed Podoces in Nucifraginae, 

 which he makes to follow Fregilince. Professor Menzbier and Mr. Zarudny, who have studied the 

 habits of Podoces panderi, agree that it has much affinity with the Nutcracker, and, so far as I 

 cau judge, I think that the genus Podoces should be placed near both Pyrrhocorax and 

 Nucifraga. The birds belonging to this genus are essentially inhabitants of the desert, run 

 with great swiftness, and are usually found on the ground and on low bushes. They feed on 

 insects of various kinds, which they chiefly pick up from the ground ; and a noticeable character 

 in these birds is the presence of the stiff feathers which cover the nostrils, and which evidently 

 protect them when the bird is busily employed in grubbing about in the fine sand in search of 

 insects. But little is known about the habits and nidification of any of the Ground-Choughs, 

 excepting Podoces panderi, and full particulars of these are given in the article on that species. 



Podoces panderi, the type of the genus, has the bill rather long, tolerably stout, tapering to 

 a point, slightly deflected towards the tip ; nostrils basal, well covered by stiff feathers directed 

 forwards ; wings extending to about the middle of the tail, broad, the first quill considerably 

 shorter than the secondaries, the second slightly longer than the seventh, the fifth longest ; tail 

 moderately long, slightly rounded ; legs stout, long, the tarsus covered anteriorly with six large 

 and three inferior scutellse ; claws moderately stout, curved, acute. 



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