16 GAME BIRDS OF INDIA. 



of the previous species, as far as is known, occur to the eastwards, 

 in Assam, Sylhet, or Burmah. Out of India, it is common through 

 great part of Central and Western Asia, and Northern Africa, and 

 it is stated to have occurred rarely in Europe. 



This Sand-grouse frequents the bare open plains, whether rocky 

 or otherwise, and is very partial to ploughed lands and bare fallow 

 fields. It feeds chiefly in the morning, and between 8 and 9 a. m. 

 goes to drink at some river or tank, at which, in some parts of the 

 country, thousands assemble, and they may be seen winging their 

 way in larger or smaller parties from all quarters, at a great height, 

 uttering their peculiar loud piercing call, which announces their 

 vicinity to the sportsman long before he has seen them. They 

 remain a few minutes at the water's edge, walking about and 

 picking up fragments of sand or gravel, and then fly off as they 

 came. In the hot weather, at all events, if not at all seasons, 

 they drink again about 4 p. M. When they are seated on bare 

 sandy or rocky ground, they are most difficult to observe, from the 

 similarity of their color to the ground ; sometimes they can be 

 aproached with ease near enough to get a good shot, at other 

 times, especially if in large flocks, they are shy and wary. A 

 small flock or single birds can often be approached very close by 

 walking rapidly, not straight, but gradually edging towards them ; 

 and, in this way, I have often walked up to within two or three 

 yards of them. They feed on various hard seeds, especially on 

 those of various Alysicarpi, Desmodium, &c., as well as on grass 

 seeds or grain. 



These Sand-grouse breed in the Deccan and Southern India 

 from December to May, and in Central India still later. In some 

 parts of the country, as at Mhow and Saugor, most of them leave 

 the district after breeding in July, and do not return till the end 

 of the rains. The eggs are laid on the bare ground, three or four 

 in number, of cylindrical form, nearly equally thick at both ends, 

 of a greenish stone colour, thickly spotted with grey and brown. 



This bird, if kept long enough, is very excellent eating, though 

 the flesh is somewhat hard and tough, but with a high game 

 flavour ; and the young birds, when nearly full grown, are most 

 excellent. 



