70 



p. 70) that it does not approach so near the verge of cultivation northwards as Pterocles arenarius, 

 but is far more abundant, and continues to occur in vast flocks in winter in the Mzab and Toureg 

 country, where he never met with that species. Mr. L. Taczanowski speaks of it (J. f. 0. 1870, 

 p. 51) as being common in the Algerian deserts, but not so numerous as on the neighbouring 

 hills; and Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., informs me that he frequently saw it when in Algeria, where 

 amongst the French colonists it is known by the very inappropriate name of "Perdrix anglaise." 

 Mr. C. F. Tyrwhitt-Drake records it from Tangier; and Von Heuglin speaks of it (J. f. O. 1862, 

 p. 415) as inhabiting Tripoli, and in his recent work (Orn. N.O.-Afr.) describes a female from 

 there. There does not appear to be any proof of its having been met with on the Canaries ; but 

 Dr. Carl Bolle says (J. f. O. 1857, p. 333) that he thinks it probable that it has occurred there, 

 as Viera speaks of having obtained Sand-Grouse which had some of the tail-feathers twice the 

 length of the others. 



To the eastward the present species is found as far as the Punjab and Sindh. De Filippi 

 records it from Persia ; and Mr. Blanford informs me that he also met with it there not uncom- 

 monly. Mr. A. O. Hume writes (Stray Feathers, i. p. 221) as follows : — " I never myself succeeded 

 in shooting a single specimen of this species while in Sindh ; but I saw one or two flocks of it 

 some few miles west of Jacobabad, and I was assured by an officer there, who is not only a first- 

 rate sportsman but somewhat of an ornithologist also, that in this north-west corner of Sindh 

 they arrive in spring in countless multitudes, and are incomparably more numerous at that time 

 than all the other Sand-Grouse put together. They appear to remain for only a very short 

 period. For about three months in midwinter this species, known to local sportsmen as the 

 Painted Rock-Grouse, is abundant about Murdan, near Attock, in parts of the Peshawar valley, 

 Abbotabad, and some isolated localities in Huzara. Nowhere in India does it descend far into 

 the plains." Dr. Jerdon says that it is found in the Punjab and Sindh, and is, comparatively 

 speaking, a rare bird in India, only a few finding their way across the Sutlej ; it is, he states, 

 recorded to have been killed at Hansi. Severtzoff (Turk. Jevotnie, p. 68) speaks of it as being 

 " found throughout Turkestan, except in the north-eastern districts, where it has hitherto not 

 been observed. It breeds in the Karatau and Thian-Shan ranges, at an altitude of from 1000 to 

 4000 feet above the level of the sea." 



In its habits the Pin-tailed Sand-Grouse does not appreciably differ from the Black-bellied 

 Sand-Grouse. Loche says (Expl. Sc. de l'Alg. Ois. ii. p. 233) that it is very common in the 

 Sahara, and occurs on the plains of Habra, Chelif, and Batna, but never approaches the coast. 

 It is shy and very wild, lives in large flocks, except during the breeding-season, feeds on seeds, 

 insects, and the leaves of various wild plants, and is especially partial to the seeds of Arthraterum 

 pungens. When in flocks they frequently traverse great distances on the wing in search of 

 water ; and during their flight they utter their loud note, kaat, kaat, Tea. 



It is monogamous, and appears greatly attached to its mate during the breeding-season. Its 

 nest is a mere depression in the sand, under shelter of a stone, or quite in an open situation ; and 

 it lays two or three, very rarely four, eggs. In Spain, however, it appears only to lay two or 

 three, and never four eggs, as stated by Loche ; and Lord Lilford informs me that it breeds not 

 uncommonly in some parts, depositing its eggs, as stated by Loche, in a mere depression in the 

 ground, either in the sandy plains or in fallow land. 



