j6 THE COMMON SAND-GROUSE. 



purple, and these latter, which are most commonly streaks and 

 clouds, seem to underlie the others. Different eggs vary much 

 in the distribution, size, and intensity of these markings, as also 

 in the relative proportion of the extent of surface covered re- 

 spectively with what I may call the primary and secondary 

 markings ; in some almost the whole ground colour not occupied 

 by the primary markings is clouded with the pale inky purple, 

 in others only here and there a few spots of this colour are trace- 

 able ; in some all the markings are small, very thickly set and 

 freckly, in others they are bold, large, eccentrically-shaped 

 blotches, comparatively thinly distributed over the surface. Some 

 of the eggs are, as a whole, very much darker-coloured than 

 others, and in some the ground colour might perhaps be best 

 described as a faintly greenish-grey. As a rule, the paler the 

 ground the paler the markings, and vice versa. Exceptionally 

 beautifully marbled eggs are met with, as also unmottled pale 

 creamy varieties. I have never, however, seen one that could be 

 mistaken for- an egg of fasciatus. 



The eggs vary in length from 1*32 to i'6, and in breadth from 

 0*95 to I'll ; but the average of seventy eggs is 1*45 by rc>3. 



In THIS species the males average rather larger and heavier, 

 and have decidedly longer tails. The following is a resume" of 

 many measurements recorded in the flesh : — 



Males. — Length, 1175 to 1375 ; expanse, 21*13 to 22 "5 \ wing, 

 67 to 7-5 ; tail from vent, 4*38 to 5*87 ; tarsus, 0*9 to vo\ bill 

 from gape, 0*62 to 07. Weight, 8 to nearly 10 ozs. 



Females. — Length, iro to 12*25 \ expanse, 20*9 to 21*5 ; wing, 

 &6 to 6*9 ; tail from vent, 4*0 to 4*8 ; tarsus, o*8 to 0*85 ; bill 

 from gape, 0*6 to 0-67. Weight, 7*5 to 8*3 ozs. 



The feet and bill vary from pale slaty grey to pale plumbe- 

 ous, or lavender blue; the irides are dark brown, and the 

 orbital skin pale lemon yellow to pale yellowish green. 



The Plate conveys a tolerable idea of the species, though 

 the colouring of the back of the male is defective, and the 

 whole picture of the female is vague and sketchy and too 

 little of an exact portrait. 



