THE RE-APPEARANCE OF PALLAS'S SAND GROUSE. 65
haunts. Some may possibly have returned to the Continent by the route they had
taken in crossing over from it, for a belated individual flew against the telegraph
wires near Plauen, in Saxony, as late as June, 1864, while numbers hung about
the sandy shores of Denmark, Holland, and Germany all through the summer and
autumn of the previous year. Altogether it has been calculated from the number
killed and seen that the migration was taken part in by at least seven hundred
birds, of which, it may be added, the greater number were 'set up' in England,
or eaten in the rest of Europe. For eight years no more appeared. But in 1872
a few arrived in Northumberland and Ayrshire, though we have no record of their
having been seen elsewhere. In May, 1876, a solitary bird alighted at Modena,
in Italy, but with the exception of a pair killed at Kilcock, in Ireland, this pre-
cursor of what was expected to be a visit in force was not followed by any other
members of its species. Since that date—nearly twelve years ago—we are not
aware of any sand grouse having been seen in Europe, until the present irruption,
which may possibly prove to be equal to that of 1863. And as the species is very
well known, it is hardly likely that it could have escaped the notice of the many
naturalists who interest themselves in its misfortunes during the long journey
across Europe.
"What impels so essentially Asiatic a bird as this is to undertake so extraordi-
nary a pilgrimage from its accustomed home is one of those questions which must
always offer a wide field for conjecture. It is not a migratory bird, except in so
far that nearly every bird is more or less addicted to shift its quarters at different
times of the year. Nor is it particularly strong on the wing. Its true home is on
the Asiatic plains, from the Kirghiz Steppes to Samarcand and Balkash, in the
Deserts at the foot of the Thian-Shan Range, over most of Mongolia, and the
Basin of the Tarei-nor. In summer it wanders north of Lake Baikal, and in
winter it makes for those parts of the Gobi Desert which are free from snow ; and
for Ala-Shan, where General Prjevalski, the Russian explorer, tells us it is met
with from October onwards in flocks of several thousands. In the Valley of the
Hoang-ho its peculiar cry of 'truck-turuk, truck-turuk,' may be heard on every
side, and when a flock are shifting their quarters, the noise of their wings has
been likened to the soughing of the wind, and is so loud that it can be heard at a
considerable distance. During severe weather the plains between Tien-tsin and
Pekin, and those of the Pecheli are so thick with them that large numbers are
netted, though their flesh is not held in much esteem by those who have essayed
it in this country ; the best that can be said about it being that the flavour is not
inferior to that of the French or red-legged partridges. Yet why every now and
again there should be these sudden invasions of Europe by these winged hordes
from Asia, is no more clear than ever. They resemble those migrations of the
tribesmen in the same region which, from the earliest times to those of the Turks,
have formed so marked a feature in the movements of makind."
The writer in the "Standard" then proceeds to suggest causes which
may account for the erratic appearance of the Syrrhaptes in Europe,
but in view of the difficulties felt by our best ornithologists in putting
forth any explanation that will bear severe criticism it will perhaps
be best to end our quotations from his amusing article at this point.
We shall be very glad to receive for publication in the Essex
Naturalist any authentic information which will render the Essex