GAME BIEDS OF THE PROTECTORATES 71 
brown on the lower breast, flanks, and belly. Tarsi and under 
tail-coverts whitish buff. Centre pair of tail-feathers produced 
into long black filaments, rest of the tail-feathers dark brown 
tipped with buff. 
Length IB inches, wing 7*1 inches, tail 5-8 inches, tarsus 
0*9 inches. 
Female . — Differs from the male in having a broad blackish- 
brown bar down the middle of each feather of the top of the 
head, neck, upper back, and chest, on the two latter the 
extremity of this bar is swollen, giving these parts a spotted 
appearance. The back, rump, and upper tail-coverts are 
vinaceous or yellowish-buff, thickly barred with black. Upper 
breast whitish or yellowish-buff ; belly and flanks blackish- 
brown, closely barred with rufous buff. Tail feathers like 
those of the back, the middle pair being produced into moder- 
ately long black filaments, while the remainder are tipped 
with yellowish-white. 
Length 10 inches, wing 7 inches, tail 3*6 inches, tarsus 
0*8 inches. 
PTEROCLES DECORATUS 
Pteroclurus decoratus. 
‘ Sheiley’s Birds of Africa,’ Vol. I, page 184. 
Pterocles decoratus. 
‘ Reichenow’s Vogel Afrikas,’ Vol. I, page 310. ‘ Ogilvie- Grant’s 
Cat. Birds Brit. Mus.’ Vol. XXII, page 21. ‘ Sharpe’s Hand- 
List,’ Vol. I, page 50. 
The Bridled Sand-grouse is the smallest of all the five 
species found in East Africa and it appears to be confined to the 
country between Teita and Taveta and ranges northwards to 
Simba river. Further north it is plentiful on the Uaso Nyiro 
and the desert country round Larsamis. It is very plentiful 
on the upper waters of the Tsavo river. A few pairs drink 
every morning quite close to Tsavo station at the trickling 
overflow from the railway-tanks. 
Male — A broad black band edged on either side with 
white surrounds the gape ; a white and black stripe above 
the eye ; top of the head and nape buff, with black shaft- 
stripes ; sides of the face pale vinaceous buff, shading into 
darker on the sides of the neck and chest. Feathers of the 
