PODOCES PANDERI. 



(PANDER'S GROUND-CHOUGH.) 



Podoces pander i, Fischer, Mem. Sc. Imp. Nat. Mosc. vi. p. 251, pi. xxi. (1823). 



Cnrvus panderi (Fischer), Licht. in Eversm. Beise Buchara, p. 126 (1823). 



Pica panderi (Fischer), Wagler, Syst. Av., Pica, sp. 17 (1827). 



Garrulus [Podoces) panderi_ (Fischer), Gray, Hand-1. of B. ii. p. 3. no. 6081 (1870). ■ 



Figurce votabiles. 



Fischer, ut supra; Bogdanoff, J. f. O. 1877, pi. iii. fig. 2; Gould, B. of Asia, v. pi. lxii.; 

 Keichenbach, Syst. Av. pi. lxxxv. 



Ad. capite et corpore supra casruleo-canis, uropygio imo vinaceo-isabellino : primariis nitide nigris, medialiter 

 albis : secundariis ad basin nigris et albo terminatis, intimis fere omnino nigris, tectricibus alarum 

 minoribus scapularibusque dorso concoloribus : tectricibus majoribus nigris, conspicue albo terminatis : 

 cauda, supracaudalibusque nitide nigris : macula pone oculum et vitta inter oculum et rostrum nigris : 

 mento et gula albis, macula magna pectorali nigra : corpore reliquo vinaceo-isabellino : subcaudalibus 

 albidis, vinaceo-isabellino tinctis : rostro cinereo-plumbeo, versus apicem nigro : pedibus pallide 

 cseruleo-albis : iride fusca. 



Adult Female (Kizil-Kum, October 24tb). Upper parts clear blue-grey, the lower rump vinous isabelline; 

 primaries black on the basal and terminal portions, but otherwise white ; secondaries black at the base 

 and white on the apical half, the black increasing in extent, the inner secondaries being black, slightly 

 tipped with white; lesser wing-coverts and scapulars blue-grey like the back, the larger coverts black, 

 broadly tipped with white; upper tail-coverts and tail glossy black; a large spot between the eye and 

 the base of the bill and a small spot behind the eye black ; the stiff nasal feathers grey, with a median 

 black line ; chin and throat white ; a large black patch on the lower neck ; rest of the underparts 

 vinous isabelline, paler on the middle of the abdomen ; under tail-coverts white, tinged with vinous 

 isabelline : bill plumbeous, grey-black towards the tip ; legs pale blue-grey ; iris dark brown. Total 

 length about 9"5 inches, culmen 1-1, wing 4 - 6, tail 3'85, tarsus 1/7. 



The sexes differ but very little, and I can find no appreciable difference between the male and female in my 

 own collection. According to Mr. Zarudny the male is slightly larger in size, has the black in front 

 of the eye and on the fore part of the neck somewhat larger, and the metallic gloss on the black feathers 

 brighter than in the female, and it has also more black on the bristly feathers covering the nostrils. 

 He further says that the colour of the legs varies from pale blue-grey to pure white, most birds having 

 them nearly white, and the bill is plumbeous grey with the tip black, varying considerably in tone of 

 colour, some birds having it lighter coloured, others blackish. 



The range of the present species is restricted to Transcaspia aud Turkestan. According to 

 Mr. Zarudny (Bull. Soc. Mosc. iii. p. 805) this bird attains the southern limit of its range in 



2l2 



