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Show 1878.] MR. D. G. ELLIOT ON THE PTEROCLIDA. 247 In flocks it is stated that one or other sex greatly preponderates; sometimes seven females are obtained to one male, and vice versa. Canon Tristram states (I. ci) that this species is universally distributed throughout the Sahara, except in the extreme south, where it gives place to P. senegalus. It has so much of the Plover-character that he took the first covey that he saw for large Plovers. H e did not find it so wary as P. alchata; but when approached closely it would suddenly rise to a great height and fly for a longdistance. The species lays three eggs of a pale fawn-colour, with obsolete pale brown blotches; they are elliptical in shape, and are placed two in a line, and the third lengthwise outside, in a depression in the ground. He observed that when the hen was sitting one wing was spread out to cover the eggs ; and she thus presented a grotesque lopsided appearance. The flesh, although extremely white, was very poor and dry, without any flavour. In support of this testimony Capt. Irby says, in his paper "On the Birds of Oudh and Kuma-on," that this bird, obtained by him near Hurdue, was uneatable and tended to confirm what the natives say, " that they live upon sand." Male. Top of head and occiput dark brownish grey, with a pearly tinge, becoming a lighter grey on loral space, around the eye, and ear-coverts. Upper part of throat and sides of neck chestnut, becoming deep orange towards the back of the neck. Lower part of throat in front black. Breast pearly grey, crossed on the lower part by a rather broad black band, succeeded by another of rich buff, which is widest on the sides near the wings. Rest of underparts jet-black. Feathers of the back and wing-coverts are rich buff, each feather with a subterminal greyish-black bar, and tipped with orange-yellow. Secondaries deep buff, the terminal third of outer web bright orange; some of the inner ones with a subterminal greyish-black bar like the coverts, and some with this colour only along the shaft. Greater wing-coverts orange-yellcw on their apical third. Primaries greyish black. Upper tail-coverts like the back; under coverts black, tipped with white. Rectrices pale rufous, crossed with narrow black bars, and tips white. Thighs black; tarsi covered in front with buffy white feathers. Bill bluish. Feet brownish. Iris brown. Total length 1 If inches, wings 9^, tail 4|, bill along gape f. Female. Top of head and occiput rufous, streaked with black. Upper part of throat and sides of head yellowish white, the feathers of the lores and ear-coverts with a fine central black streak; lower part of throat crossed by a blackish band. Breast rich buff, becoming buffy white near the abdomen, the feathers of the upper part, with a central streak and spot at the tip, black. A black band crosses the lower part, beneath which there are no spots. Rest of underparts black. Back and wings deep buff, crossed irregularly with narrow black lines ; the greater coverts tipped with orange. Secondaries deep buff, barred narrowly with black, and all but the innermost ones with a broad band of deep orange on the outer webs at their tips. Primaries greyish black, edges whitish. Rectrices very |
