NAMAQUA PTEROCLES. 



315 



feathers are marked on their outer webs and part 

 of their inner ones with stripes of yellow and 

 brown : the rest of the tail resembles that of the 

 male, except that the two middle feathers are not 

 quite so long. 



This species inhabits the middle region of Africa, 

 and in the daytime frequents the arid deserts. It 

 flies with rapidity, and a great distance at a time. 

 It feeds on the seeds of plants, corn, and also on 

 insects : drinks much, and arrives in troops at the 

 fountains, which are very scarce : its eggs are 

 deposited in a nest composed of herbs and briars ; 

 they are four or five in number, olive-green spotted 

 with black, resembling those of the Plover. 



