THE SAND GROUSE. 



375 



to by the disciples of the gun as anxiously as the Derby-day by 

 racing men. 



Perdicides. 



The distinctive features of the birds composing this family are — 

 a short beak, a small head, a round and massive body, bare tarsi, 

 with spurs more or less developed, and a middling-sized back toe. 

 The wings are sharp, pointed, or blunt, according to the species. 

 This family comprehends the Sand Grouse, Quail, Partridge, Colin, 

 Francolin, and Tumix. 



Fig. 15a — Ptarmigan (Summer and Winter Dress). 



The Sand Grouse {Pt erodes) are essentially birds of passage, and 

 in consequence are provided with long and sharply-pointed wings. 

 They resemble the Plover in their power of lofty, rapid, and sustained 

 flight, and inhabit the arid plains of Southern Europe, Asia, and 

 Africa. 



The Pin-tail Sand Grouse {Pterocles setarius, Fig. 151), a well- 

 known species, annually makes its appearance in Spain and the South 

 of France ; it is common on the steppes of Southern Russia, Tartary, 

 and Northern Africa. Occasionally it breedsin the Pyrenees. 



The Heteroclites are characterised by the total absence of the 

 back toe. They are closely allied to the Sand Grouse, and, like them, 

 have pointed wings, and are fond of travelling ; but their flight is not 



