8722 



Birds. 



the sand grouse, abounds with this plant. The coveys generally number from seven to 

 twenty.— N. Femvick Hele ; Aldeburgh, Suffolk, July 19, 1863. 



Sand Grouse : Correction of an Error. — The two birds mentioned by Mr. W. Liver- 

 sedge (Zool. 8689) are now in my collection. They were killed, as stated, by Mr. W. 

 Emmett, in a field in my brother's manor in the parish of Calverley. The name given 

 by Mr. Liversedge is a mistake: they are not the pintailed sand grouse (Pterocles 

 selarius) but Pallas' sand grouse (Syrrhaptes paradoxus). They are both in fine plu- 

 mage, and exhibit the curious piu feathers in the tail in a marked degree. — W. Christy 

 Jlorsfall; Horsforth Low Hall, near Leeds. 



Pallas' Sand Grouse in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. — In the early part of June I 

 had a fine specimen of Pallas' sand grouse brought in to be preserved. It was shot 

 out of a covey at Floatmanby near here. A fortnight after I had another sent in, 

 which was shot from a brace by Admiral Mitford's gamekeeper. They were both 

 males, and in fine condition. The plants enclosed are grown from seeds obtained 

 from the first bird's crop : the seeds sent I took from the second bird. We have had 

 a brace (male and female) presented to our museum, which were shot at Saltfleet, on 

 the Lincolnshire Coast. I understand one person shot ten brace of these curious birds. 

 Alfred Roberts ; King Street, Scarborough, July 5, 1863. 



[The seeds are of various kinds, already mentioned as occurring in the crops of 

 these birds ; the young plants are Chenopodium Bonus-Henricus and Stelhiria media. 

 Knowing how very commonly these two species occur in gardens without any inten- 

 tional sowing, I should decline to express any decided opinion as to their seeds having 

 been eaten by the sand grouse. — Edward Newman]. 



Pallas' Sand Grouse in Cambridgeshire. — In addition to the many localities in 

 which this hitherto rare visitant has recently made its appearance, it has shown itself 

 in considerable numbers in the eastern counties; a large flock settled in the neighbour- 

 hood of Cottenham, a village about eight miles from Cambridge, where they were 

 constantly running as in search of food. Though they are remarkably shy, and fly 

 with great swiftness, several specimens have been obtained. In dissecting some I 

 found the crops full of a small black seed very much resembling the seed of the willow 

 weed, which grows plentifully in this district : in a female I found several eggs the 

 size of a large pea, and by the healthy appearance of the bird have no doubt they 

 would breed in this country if unmolested.— John Baker ; Trumpington Street, Cam- 

 bridge. 



Pallas' Sand Grouse in Cambridgeshire. — Several have been captured in this county 

 during the last three weeks ; four or five at Cottenham, one at Oakington, one at 

 Swaffham Prior Lane, I don't know how many at Barrington, and I hear several 

 around Royston. There was a flock at Cottenham — upwards of forty — but the last 

 time seen there they had dwindled down to five. As Oakington is only about three 

 miles west or north-west of Cottenham, and SwafTham much about the same distance 

 east of Cottenham, it is not impossible that those captured in these three parishes were 

 of the same flock. They have appeared also at Little Wilbraham, but no specimens 

 have been taken there that I have heard of. I have three in my possession — a male 

 and female shot at Cottenham, the former only winged and now alive, and a male 

 shot at Swaffham Prior. I hear the birdstuffer at Royston has several in his posses- 

 sion, but whether his own property or not I do not know. — Kindly communicated by 

 Mr. F. Bond. 



The Sand Grouse in Cambridgeshire. — The sand grouse made their appearance in 



