A v es.— P late XXXI. ( F emale.)
For the description of this bird see the letter-press accompanying Plate III.
The egg is represented of the natural size, and each female lays two or three
once or oftener daring the warm season. These they deposit, without
any care, upon the bare ground, and it is only when level spots fitted to the
reception of eggs cannot readily be obtained that the birds of this genus
bestow any labour on the preparation of nestling places. Nothing is ever
interposed between the eggs and the soil, indeed whatever is calculated to
separate them is carefully avoided. Almost the instant the young birds escape
from the shell they take to a wandering life, and remove from place to place
with their parents in quest of food.
Though we find species of P te ro c le s beyond the confines of Africa, yet the majority of those
now known are peculiar to it. The regions south of the equator have furnished nearly as many
species as those to the north of it; and both will doubtless afford many additional ones when
the yet unknown districts shall have been thoroughly explored. Each of theknown species, as
far as our observations go, has a limited range, and should the ranges of such as inhabit the
unexplored tracts of the interior not be greater, we may in time expect great additions to the
present list. ■ The following are the African species with which we are at present acquainted.
Pterocles arenarius, Temm. Barbary and Senegal.
Pterocles guttatus, L ic h t. Egypt.
Pterocles quadricinctus, Temm. Senegal.
Pterocles coronatus, L ic h t. Nubia.
Pterocles Lichtensteinii, Temm. Nubia.
Pterocles tricinctus, Sw a in . Senegal, x
Pterocles exustus, Temm. Egypt and Senegal. *
Pterocles tachypetes, Temm. South Africa.
Pterocles bicinctus, Temm. South Africa.
Pterocles simplex, R o u x . South Africa.
Pterocles maculosus, JBurchell, South Africa.
Pterocles gutturalis, Sm ith , South Africa.