THE LARGE OR BLACK-BELLIED SAND-GROUSE. 5 1 



This species does not vary very much in size. I have measur- 

 ed and weighed a very large number with the following 

 results : — 



Males.— 'Length, 1375 to 1475 ; expanse, 27 to 30; wing, 

 9/0 to 9-9 ; tail from vent, 4 to 5 ; tarsus, ri to 1*25 ; bill from 

 gape, 0*64 to o*8. Weight, lib to lib. 4 ozs. 



Females. — Length, 13*38 to 14*37 ; expanse, 27*38 to 28'5 ; 

 wing, 87 to 9*4 ; tail, 4*13 to 4*15 ; tarsus, ro to i*i. Weight, 

 15 ozs to 17 ozs. 



The feet and the back of the tarsi are grey, in some an 

 earthy grey, in some pale French grey, or pale plumbeous, or 

 dark greyish plumbeous ; the claws darker and horny ; the irides 

 are brown ; edges of eyelids pale lemon ; the bill is pale bluish 

 grey, or pale plumbeous, often darker, sometimes blackish, 

 at the tip. 



The Plate, held at a little distance, is as good a representa- 

 tion of the bird as could be desired. In the majority of speci- 

 mens, however, the buffy portions of the plumage are lighter 

 and yellower and less rufous than in the specimens figured, but 

 the birds vary much in this respect. 



I cannot say much for the queer little figure in the back- 

 ground, which is intended to represent a young male ; like the 

 female, but with the spots on the breast already partly oblitera- 

 ted by the coming grey of the mature plumage. 



