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Show 1878.] MR. D. G. ELLIOT ON THE PTEROCLIDA. 261 Syrrhaptes paradoxus, Illig. Prodr. (181 1) p. 243. Syrrhaptes pallasii, Temm. Pig. et Gallin. vol. iii. pp. 282, 716 (1815); id. Planch. Col. 95. Heteroclitus tartaricus, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. Hist. Nat. vol. xiv. p. 453 (1817). Syrrhaptes paradoxus, Licht. in Evers. Reise nach Buch. p. 134 (1823); Gray, Gen. B. vol. iii. p. 519; Reich. Syn. Av. Gallin. (1851) pl. ccvii. figs. 1807-8; Moore, Ibis (1860) pl. iv. p. 105; Swinh. Ibis (1861) p. 341 ; Newt. P. Z. S. (1861) pp. 203, 397 ; Wortlev, P.Z.S. (1861) p. 196; Parker, P. Z. S. (1862) p. 257, (1863) p. 516 ; Swinh. P. Z. S. (1863) p. 306 ; Radde, Reis. S. O.- Siber. (1863) vol. ii. p. 287, pl. xiv. fig. 3 (egg); Newt. Ibis (1864) p. 185 ; Salvad. Ibis (1864) p. 228 ; Von Droste, Journ. fiir Orn. (1868) p. 406 ; Mull. Journ. fiir Orn. (1869) p. 118 ; Von Homey. Journ. fiir Orn. (1870) p. 170; Malmgr. Journ. fiir Ornith. (1870) p. 295; Fritsch, Journ. fiir Orn. (1871) p. 312; Swinh. P. Z. S. (1871) p. 398; Severzov, Journ. fiir Orn. (1873) p. 380; Von Heugl. Journ. fiir Orn. (1874) p. 399 ; Taczanow. Bull. Soc. Zool. France (1876) vol. i. p. 241 ; Dress. Ibis (1876) p. 322; id. B. Eur. pt. 53 (1877) pl. ; Prjevalsky, in Rowl. Ornith. Misc. pt. ix. p. 382; David & Oust. Ois. de la Chine (1877) p. 389. Tetrao arenaria, Pall. Zoogr. Rosso-Asiat. (1831) pl. 53, nee text. Syrrhaptes heteroclita, Vieill. Gal. Ois. vol. ii. p. 64, pl. 222 (1834). Stepnaya kuritza, Mongolia (Prejevalsky). Hab. Tientsin, China (Worthy) ; Pekin and Tientsin (Swinhoe); Turkestan (Severtzov) ; Mongolia (Prjevalsky) ; Kirghis steppes, Donaria, plains of Petchely (David Sf Oust.). Pallas's Sand-Grouse is essentially an Asiatic species, making its home in the arid Kirghis steppes, the great Gobi desert, and eastward through Mongolia to the plains between Pekin and Tientsin in North China, where it is especially numerous during the winter. The year 1853 is the earliest in which this bird's presence is recorded in Europe, Moschler having met with it at Sarepta, on the Volga (Naum. vol. iii. p. 305). In 1859 a few specimens were obtained in various parts of Western Europe ; but in 1863 a great number of this species, estimated at many hundreds, suddenly appeared in many parts of Europe, constituting a veritable ornithological " Tatar" invasion, as it was aptly called by the historian of this remarkable event. The birds proceeded as far as Ireland, in the west, to the Faeroes, in the north, and to Perpignan in France, to the south. Great numbers of them were killed ; and it is doubtful if many survived to return to their eastern resorts. The cause of this singular migration has never been ascertained. About the plains between Peking and Tientsin, according to Swinhoe, flocks of hundreds of this species constantly pass, flying swiftly like the Golden Plover. The natives call them " Sha-chee," or Sand-fowl. They are generally caught in nets ; and after a fall of snow a space is cleared, upon which the net is placed and |