SYRRHAPTES.
Tarsus completely feathered ; hind toe absent ; toes feathered to claws and united below in a pad; tail pointed.
Syrrhaptes paradoxus (Phllas). PALLAS'S SAND GROUSE.
j Above fawn, barred black, on wing coverts a chestnut bar, throat and neck patches reddish ochreous, chest buffy grey, pectoral band dull white barred black, breast buff, abdomen black. Middle tail feathers 80-120 m.m. longer than next pair. Bill
pale horn. Wing j 227-267, 9 217-237 (H.). Tarsus 20-22. Bill 8-9. 9 No pectoral band ; crown and upper parts spotted and barred with black, throat and neck patches yellow ochreous.
Breeds.—S.E. Russia (Astrakhan and Ufa), and east far into Asia. It has occurred (and occasionally bred) in periodical invasions in nearly every country in Europe from the Urals to British Isles.