The GANGA, or LARGE SAND GROUSE (_Pterocles arenarius_), one of the
largest members of the group, is of a reddish grey on the head, shading
into a somewhat deeper tint at the nape; the mantle is mottled with light
or dark yellow and slate-grey, each feather having a round yellow spot
at its tip; the throat is ochre-yellow, a band upon its lower portion
brownish black; the breast is reddish grey, and has a very clearly defined
streak on its surface, which is black or brownish black, as is the belly;
the quills are grey or greyish blue, tipped with brownish black above
and deep black beneath; the secondaries are white at the roots; some of
the feathers on the upper wing-covers are partially of a pure, unspotted
ochre-yellow, and those of the lower covers white; the two centre
tail-feathers are reddish brown, striped with pale black; the rest are
deep grey, tipped with white above, and coal-black on their lower surface.
The feathers on the upper tail-covers are mottled like the back, and those
on the lower covers spotted black and white; the plumage on the feet is
of a dark brownish yellow. The eye is deep brown, the beak dull blueish
grey. Both sexes are about thirteen and a half inches long, and from
twenty-six to twenty-seven inches broad; the wing measures eight inches
and three-quarters, and the tail four inches. The female is of a sandy
yellow over the entire back and sides of the throat, each of the mantle
feathers being striped with blackish brown, and those on the head, neck,
throat, and upper breast marked with small dark spots: the bands upon the
throat and breast are comparatively indistinct, and the brown and black
belly paler than that of the male bird.
The Ganga is met with in North-western Africa, and occasionally in the
most southern countries of Europe; in Asia it is very numerous, appearing
regularly in India during the cold season. "This fine Sand Grouse," says
Jerdon, "is only a winter visitant to India, arriving towards the end of
September and leaving in March. It frequents extensive open sandy plains,
flies in vast flocks, being said to be more abundant than _P. exustus_ in
those parts where it does occur. Like the others of this tribe, it goes
regularly twice a day to certain spots on the banks of rivers or tanks to
drink, and it is fond of basking in the sun and rolling on the sand. One
writer records that he saw these birds leave their roosting-places among
sand-hills about sunrise, and collect in thousands on a hard bare plain,
close to where they usually drank, but that they were neither feeding nor
drinking at that early hour, and came there, he suggests, for the sake
of basking in the early rays of the sun. This species seeks its food on
grassy plains and also on stubble-fields, and does so immediately after
drinking."
The flight of this Sand Grouse, we are told, is amazingly strong and
rapid, and when roused it flies to great distances. In disposition it is
generally shy and wary, and difficult to approach closely, from the open
nature of the country it affects. It is highly esteemed as a game bird,
and much sought after by many sportsmen, as well from the difficulty of
the chase as for its qualities on the table. It is stated that, from the
closeness and firmness of its plumage, it takes a good gun and heavy shot
to bring it down. A writer records the preponderance of one sex in every
flock, sometimes seven or eight females and not one male being killed,
and _vice versâ_. The flesh is mixed white and brown on the breast, and
although somewhat tough when fresh, and perhaps requiring to be skinned,
is considered delicious eating; indeed, one authority states that it is
the finest game bird for the table in India. Shooting these Grouse from a
hole dug in the ground is said to be a very deadly way of making a good
bag. They are caught in the neighbourhood of Peshawur and other places in
horse-hair nooses. Adams, when at Peshawur, towards the end of the year,
noticed the arrival of this species and also of the _P. exustus_. Their
guttural voices were frequently heard among the sounds giving notice of
cold weather. Both kinds were often seen in flocks during the day, and
seemed to be regular migrants.
The eggs of this Sand Grouse, usually three, occasionally four in number,
are, according to the Arabs, deposited on the sand or bare ground; whilst
Adams, on the contrary, maintains that this species excavates a small hole
wherein to place the brood, and raises a circle of dry grass around its
outer edge.