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Show 244 MR. D. G. ELLIOT ON THE PTEROCLIDA. [Feb. 19, Pterocles senegalus, Shelley, B. Egypt (1872) p. 220; Hume, Str. Feath. (1873) vol. i. p. 221 ; James, Str. Feath. vol. iii. (1875) p. 418; Butler, Str. Feath. (1875) vol. iii. p. 4, (1877) vol. v. p. 231. Fukee, Somali (Speke). Hab. Egypt (Shelley) ; extreme south of the Sahara (Tristram) ; Somali country, East Africa (Speke); Egypt and Nubia (Riippell); Palestine (Tristram) ; Sindh, Northern Guzerat, along the shores of the Runn of Cutch (Hume). Canon Tristram states that this species is confined to the extreme south of the Sahara, but is more plentiful there than P. coronatus. He obtained one nest; and the egg had a ground-colour similar to that of P. alchata, but was scarcely more than half the size, and had very faint brown spots. In the Somali country Capt. Speke met with this Sand-Grouse on the plateau in large flocks. In Sindh Mr. H u m e found this species in certain localities to be very numerous. Their habits are very much like those of other Sand-Grouse, keeping together in parties of from fifty to sixty ; and very often in winter a flock consists of one sex only. They trot about on the dry soil, picking up seeds and insects, or squat and enjoy the warmth of the morning sun. They seemed to be less pugnacious than some of the other species, as, although he watched them closely, he did not observe the perpetual skirmishing among the males, such as he had noticed took place with those of P. arenarius in the Punjaub. It is probable that this species breeds in Sindh. Male. General plumage sandy buff. Lores and a band encircling the back of the head pearly grey. Underparts sandy-buff, washed with grey on the breast. Middle of abdomen black. Basal portion of scapulars, greater wing-coverts, and secondaries dark brown, tips buff. Primaries pale buff, graduating into brownish black towards the tips, which are buff. Central rectrices lengthened beyond the rest, pale buff, apical half black; lateral ones greyish brown, with a subterminal black band and white tips. Bill and feet lead-colour. Total length 12£ inches, wing 7\, tail §, bill along gape §. Female. Throat and sides of neck orange, lighter on the chin. Entire upper parts and wings sandy-buff, covered with black spots. Primaries sandy-buff, graduating into dark brown near the ends, and tipped with pale buff. Underparts bright buff, spotted on the breast with dark brown. Centre of abdomen black. Upper tail-coverts like the back. Median rectrices buff, faintly barred with black, their elongated tips brownish-black. Lateral feathers pale brown, lightest on the outer webs, with a subterminal brownish-black bar, and white tips. Bill dark horn-colour. Feet dark brown. Total length 11 \ inches, wing 8, tail 4f, bill at gape \. 5. PTEROCLES VARIEGATUS. Pterocles variegatus, Burch. Trav. S. Afr. vol. ii. p. 345 (1822); Gray, Gen. B. vol. iii. p. 519 (1849); Reich. Syn. Av. Galliuse |