228 



SAND GROUSE. 



lay more than three eggs, this "being- the invariable 

 number of the genus. These are of a character most 

 unlike that of any other gallinaceous bird with which 

 I am acquainted, being extremely elongated, compressed 

 in the centre, and exactly the same size at each end — • 

 in fact perfectly elliptical. The eggs are placed two 

 in a line, and the third lengthways outside them in 

 a depression in the sand without any nest. The bird 

 in sitting, as I have observed, lies on one side spread- 

 ing out one wing to cover the eggs, thus presenting a 

 grotesque lop-sided appearance; but it is a posture 

 for which the deep keel of her sternum admirably 

 adapts her." 



"The flesh of the Sand Grouse is extremely white,, 

 but very poor and dry, without any flavour. We never 

 discovered any mode of cooking by which it could be 

 rendered tasty, or even palatable. I have seen both 

 the common species thrive Avhile in captivity, and almost 

 domesticated in the courtyards of Arabs' houses." 



The egg which I have figured is one taken by Mr. 

 Tristram, and kindly sent to me. It measures one inch 

 and nine tenths long, and four inches and one tenth 

 round the middle. 



Captain Irby, in a valuable paper in the "Ibis," vol. 

 iii, p. 235, on the "Birds observed in Oudh and 

 Kumaon," says that two or three large flocks of P. 

 arenarius were seen near Hurdue in January 1860, 

 and many killed. He quite confirms the statements of 

 Dr. Leith Adams and Mr. Tristram, about the uneatable 

 character of the Sand Grouse. "Both species," says 

 Captain Irby, of the Indian Sand Grouse which I 

 have tasted are uneatable, and in this respect certainly 

 tend to confirm what the natives say, 'that they live 

 upon sand.' " 



