Order PTEROCLETES. 



Family PTEROCLID-^. 



PALLAS'S SAND-GROUSE. 

 Syrrhaptes paradoxus, Pallas. 

 Plate 53. 



Periodical invasions of the British Islands by this beautiful desert species from 

 the steppes of Central Asia have occurred from time to time, the greatest irrup- 

 tions being those of the summers of 1863 and 1888, when vast numbers of the 

 birds visited our eastern shores, and soon spread over the greater part of the 

 country, many reaching Ireland, the Orkneys, and even the remote Hebrides. It 

 was fondly hoped that the birds might remain and breed, but they are only known 

 to have done so among the sandhills of the Moray Firth and in Yorkshire, a 

 young bird having been found in the first-mentioned district in the summer of 

 1888, and another in the following year, whilst eggs were discovered in Yorkshire 

 in 1888. The birds, however, all soon disappeared, a good many having been shot, 

 and others no doubt died, owing to the unaccustomed climate. 



The nest is a mere hollow in the sand, and contains three eggs, in colour a 

 dull buff marked with purplish-brown. 



The food consists chiefly of the seeds of various plants. 



The home of Pallas's Sand-Grouse is among the deserts of Central Asia ; it is 

 difficult to account for the periodical migrations of such large numbers, unless it be 

 due to overcrowding. This is no doubt the species mentioned by Marco Polo, under 

 the name Barguerlac, which he met with on his travels through this wild country 

 in the thirteenth century. 



According to Millais, who had opportunities of observing the birds during the 

 visitation of 1888, "the flight is very swift, direct, and like that of the Golden 

 Plover. When on the wing they constantly cry " Kit-id-dee." 



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