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Show 1878.] MR. D. G. ELLIOT ON THE PTEROCLIDJE. 233 3. A Study of the Pteroclidse or Family of the Sand-Grouse. By D. G. ELLIOT, F.R.S.E. &C. [Eeceived January 18, 1878.] The materials for the present paper were supplied by the splendid collection in the Paris Museum, kindly placed at my disposal by Prof. A. Milne-Edwards, who afforded m e every facility for investigating this interesting group of birds, and to whom, as well as to Dr. E. Oustalet, Aide-Naturaliste, I desire to express m y thanks. With the exception of P. decoratus, the type of which is, I believe, unique, every known species of the Pteroclidae is represented in that Museum, many of them by series of both sexes in different plumages ; and certain specimens are the types of the older writers. In the treatment of m y subject I have followed the same method as that adopted for m y " Review of the Ibidinae"1, and give first the Literature of the Family, then the Classification, followed by some remarks upon the different genera proposed for the group; these are succeeded by a review of the Geographical Distribution ; and I conclude with the synonymy and description of each species. LITERATURE OF THE FAMILY. Linnaeus is the first author to claim our attention. 1766. LINNAEUS, ' Systema Naturae.' In the list of species comprised in the genus Tetrao, this author places among those characterized by "pedibus nudis" a single species belonging to the Pteroclida?, called by him Tetrao alchata. Species 1. 1771. LINNJEUS, 'Mantissa.' In this work the P. senegalus is described as Tetrao senegalus. Species 2. 1773. PALLAS, 'Reise durch Verschied.Provinz. Russisch. Reichs.' Syrrhaptes paradoxus is described as Tetrao paradoxus. Species 3. 1774. PALLAS, 'NOV. Comm. Petropol.' Pterocles arenarius first made known as Tetrao arenarius. Species 4. 1786. SCOPOLI, 'Deliciae Faunas et Florae Insubricae.' Pterocles fasciatus first described as Tringa fasciatus. Species 5. 1788. GMELIN, * Systema Naturae.' Five species of this family are given by this author, all placed in Linnseus's genus Tetrao, viz. T. alchata, Linn., T. namaqua, described for the first time, T. indicus (=T. fasciata, Scop.), T. arenarius, Pall., and T. paradoxus, Pall. Species 6. 1 P. Z. S. 1877, p. 477. |
