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It is found on barren plains and undulating desert, is shy in the mornings 
and evenings, but not so in the heat of the day. It drinks morning and 
evening when it is particularly noisy. 
THE EASTERN PIN-TAILED SAND GROUSE. 
Pterodurus alchatus. Native name, Ka-at. 
Habitat .—A winter visitor to the Punjab and Sind. 
Description. —Male—back and hackles olive buff with yellowish patches ; 
crown of the head grey, sides bright buff, forehead and neck greyish buff, 
chin and throat black. First ten quills of the wing grey ; next quills largely 
mixed with white. Tail dark grey, tipped with white. Rump and tail-coverts 
barred black and yellow, belly and sides of body white. The female resembles 
the male, but has the throat white. 
Length, 15 inches; wing, 8 inches ; tail, 6 inches ; legs, green ; irides, 
brown ; bill, greenish brown ; weight, 12 oz. 
It is shy, very wild and associates in large docks, feeding on seeds, insects 
and leaves. 
