Diseases and Parasites 
No extensive work seems to have been carried out on the diseases 
or parasites that infect imperial sandgrouse. Three specimens shot in 
central Turkey were sent to Carl Borg, Swedish wildlife pathologist, in 
1950 for examination. No parasites were found. Blood smears from two 
were negative; in those from the third bird 2 few Haemogregarinas, 
protozoa of the class Sporozoa, were found, \# 
Among the few imperials trapped and conditioned for two months by 
Program personnel, losses, except from mechanical injuries, were 
unusual, Parasites, either internal or external, were not commonly 
observed in making postmortems of the few birds that died in captivity. 
‘No outbreak of disease was noted even though on one occasion in India 
both the imperial and the common Indian sandgrouse were penned within 
50 feet of gray francolins that had to be destroyed because of Newcastle 
disease. In fact, imperials appeared to be remarkably unaffected by the 
diseases common to francolins or other gallinaceous birds studied by 
Program personnel in India, 
Analysis of Competing Interests 
Relation to Agriculture 
In no portion of their wide range are imperial sandgrouse considered 
to be either injurious or beneficial to agricultural crops. Though they 
consume more waste grain than do most other sandgrouse, farmers do not 
accuse them of digging or pulling up freshly planted or sprouted cereals. 
Nor do they bother standing grain, fruits, or leafy crops. Unlike the 
vast packs characteristic of the pin-tailed sandgrouse, the imperial is 
seldom noticed on its feeding grounds except in pairs or small flocks. 
Usefulness 
As a source of food -- Opinions vary as regards the edibility of the 
imperial sandgrouse. The meat is inclined to be dark and dry. Members 
of the British Mesopotamia Expedition (27), accustomed to army fare, 
characterized it as palatable but dry and tough, Ogilve-Grant (30) 
indicates that "the flesh is mixed brown and white on the breast, some- 
what tough when fresh, and is reckoned delicious eating; indeed one 
writer says it is the finest game bird for the table in India." Whita- 
ker (45) likens the meat to that of black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix). In 
Turkey, my friends and I cooked a number of imperials with thoroughly 
disillusioning results. But in Baghdad there was an Indian cook, wise 
in the preparation of this bird. His method was to hang the freshly shot 
imperials for a day at about 90°F., then skin, eviscerate, cut up and 
soak in vinegar, salt, and water for another day. Thus tenderized, and 
then broiled and basted with brandy, they were delicious. 

(a) Karl Borg, personal communication 
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