HABITS OF THE GANGA. 367 
clayey tint of the campos, and the vivid yellow of the sand-grouse 
(Pterocles exustus) with the almost golden lights of the sandy desert. 
According to Brehm, we may observe a certain peculiarity in the 
manners and habits of the gangas. They walk more in the manner of 
the pigeons than of the barn-door fowl, and they trot rather than run. 
They raise their bodies erect, keep their legs straight, slowly plant one 
foot before another, and incline their head at every step. Their rapid 
rushing flight is executed by uniform strokes of the wing, following 
one another precipitately, and resembles that of the pigeon, or rather 
that of the plover. They never hover or poise as the pigeons do, and 
only when about to descend do they adopt a gliding movement in the 
air without stirring their wings. When they first rise, they seem to 
creep, mounting in an almost straight line ; and it is not until they 
have attained a certain height — say, above gunshot — that they begin 
to fly horizontally, in compact ranks, and uttering continuous cries. 
They do not appear to make any alteration in their array, each indi- 
vidual keeping to the place he occupies at the outset ; but with them, 
as with the cranes, and rooks, and wild swans, some are thrown out as 
an advanced guard, while others are detached to bring up the rear. 
There is something characteristic in the cry of these birds. The 
Arab name of khata or khadda represents it with tolerable accuracy 
when they are flying. When they are running along the ground they 
utter a milder cry, which may be indicated by the syllables gloock or 
aploock. 
As to the degree of development of intelligence attained by the 
gangas, we cannot speak with certainty. The hunter soon leams by 
experience that their powers of vision are considerable ; the way in 
which the slightest sound attracts their attention proves the fineness 
of their hearing. They apparently understand that the colour of their 
plumage blends with that of the soil, and, at need, take advantage of 
this circumstance. They display sometimes a certain amount of cun- 
ning, and are quite capable of profiting by the lessons of experience. 
Generally full of confidence, they become exceedingly timid and pru- 
dent when they have been hunted ; and, strange to say, appear much 
more suspicious when congregated in large numbers than when scattered 
