750 
BIRD-LIFE. 
A person accustomed to observe these birds, and 
endowed with a quick eye, will, on approaching a covey 
on the ground, notice several old males watching the 
intruder with outstretched necks, and that, on a nearer 
advance, these suddenly squat, and, with the entire covey, 
become instantly invisible. I have hunted and shot Sand 
Grouse hundreds of times, but was on every fresh occa¬ 
sion more and more astonished, at the readiness they 
showed in hiding themselves from view, their dress being, 
doubtless, on these occasions, their best friend. The Sand 
Grouse need only squat close to the ground, the colouring 
of which is matched in every shade by its plumage, and 
remain motionless, in which case the bird seems part of 
the very soil on which it lies, and is, for the time being 
invisible. In this manner, all members of this interesting 
family, as well as many other birds, manage to elude the 
vigilance of their pursuers: they allow the hunter to 
approach so near, that if he can see them in time he 
may shoot them with a pistol. Suddenly one of the 
males rises from the ground, cries “khata” once, and 
then the entire band stream away like a whirlwind, calling 
loudly as they fly. It is only when looking at these birds 
through a spy-glass, or from a hiding-place, when they 
think themselves unobserved, that one can manage really 
to watch their habits and ways. They run about hither 
and thither, like other members of the Gallinaceous 
family, the females and young birds without a care, while 
one or other of the males now and again look to the 
safety of the band. They scrape about with their beaks, 
like Pigeons, and with their feet like other Partridges, in 
search of food, principally seeds, plucking the tender 
shoots of plants, and picking up insects; they clean and 
preen themselves, bathe, so to speak, in the sand, 
