THE COMMON SAND-GROUSE. 



n 



then swift and strong, and they will carry off a good deal of shot. 

 As for the native plan of lying up close to the water and potting 

 party after party as they alight, I hardly think that it comes 

 within the category of sport, though it may yield huge bags* 



Their approach is always notified, by their peculiar chuck- 

 ling, far-reaching double call, which they continually utter dur- 

 ing flight, and which, even when one is on the alert, is often the 

 first intimation received of their passing over head. They may 

 often be seen flying very high up, so high that, despite their pecu- 

 liar shape and flight, it would be difficult to make certain what 

 they were but for their far-resounding cry. 



Arrived at the water, round which, if at all alarmed, they cir- 

 cle several times, they drop suddenly on to some smooth spot 

 not far from the water's edge and there squat motionless, at times 

 for a few seconds, at times for two or three minutes. Then 

 they run quickly to the water's edge and drink a good hearty 

 drink. Then they pick about a little in the sand, very often 

 wash themselves freely, perhaps take a second short sip, and 

 then, presto \ with one consent, the whole party is off like a 

 shot. Others may be coming or going, but the several parties 

 take no notice of each other. 



After the morning drink, they again resort to feeding ground, 

 not that where they fed earlier, but much more open and bare 

 ground, ploughed fields and perfectly open sandy plains, and 

 there they feed in a desultory sort of way, now squatting, now 

 toddling about, till the full heat of the day comes on, when all 

 subside into little hollows or little nooks behind some clod, and 

 enjoy their noontide siesta, much as I have already described 

 in the case of other species. 



By 3 or 4 o'clock, according to season, earlier in cold, later 

 in hot weather, they are again on the move, feeding sometimes 

 where they have rested, but more commonly in some adjoining 

 field or dry jhfl, to which they move, not as a rule in one 

 flight, but by a series of little flights, some in the rear rising 

 and settling in front, and so on. 



At from 4 to about 6 o'clock, earlier or later again according 

 to season, they are off for their evening draught. If there is 

 plenty of water about, they do not, according to my experience, 

 go twice running to the same spot, but of course in many parts 

 of Rajputana and the Punjab they have no choice; there 

 may be no other water within a dozen miles, and then drink 

 they must, and no amount of firing will keep the poor things off 

 for that evening, though the next day they will abandon the 

 neighbourhood, even though they have eggs. I know of a 



* Writing from Sind, Mr. Doig remarks : — 



u The general way of shooting them here is from the back of a camel, and a good 

 many may be killed this way, but the biggest bag I have known made was obtained 

 by Mr. Davidson, who hid himself close to a pool of water where these birds were 

 in the habit of drinking, and in one morning before breakfast got fifty-two couple." 



