POD OCE S PA NDE RI, Fischer.
Pander’s Podoces.

Podoces Panderi, Fischer, Mém. Imp. Soc. Nat. Mose., v. pl. 21.—Bp. Consp., i. p. 388 —Sharpe, P. Z. S., 1870
pyosa.——Cab. J. f. O. 1873, p. 63, Taf. ili. figs. 37, 38. : | a
Corvus Panderi, Eversm. Reis. Buch. App., p. 126.

Fica Panderi, Wag). Syst. Av., Pica, SD. 7

Garrulus Panderi, Gray, Hand-l. B., ii. p. 3 (1870).

ALTHOUGH many years have elapsed since this fine species was first described, it still r
rarest kinds of birds known, and not half a dozen examples ar

emains one of the
e as yet to be seen in the galleries of European
museums. As far as I know, only one specimen has ever been sent. to England, and from that bird my
present Plate has been drawn. I owe the opportunity of portraying this remarkable species to the liberality
of Lord Lilford, in whose collection the bird remains. His Lordship may be congratulated on the
acquisition of this rarity, though it could be wished that it were in better condition.

Structurally Podoces reminds us of Pastor, and it resembles the members of the latter genus in its style
of coloration. Four species of the genus have been discovered, and all of them are inhabitants of the great
desert region which stretches across Central Asia. From the inaccessibility of their habitat little is known
of their habits; and the few notes reproduced below are, I believe, all that has been recorded respecting
the economy of Podoces Panderi.

Dr. Eversmann brought back one specimen from his Buchara expedition, this being the bird noted by
Lichtenstein, Bonaparte, and Cabanis as existing in the Berlin Museum, where for a long time it was the
only one known. He observes, ‘‘ One example was shot during our upward journey in the beginning of
December in the Desert of Kisilkum.” He gives at the same time a very minute description of the species.
Severtzoff has more recently met with it during his journey to Turkestan ; and the late Professor Fedtschenko
discovered the eggs of the present species while travelling through the last-mentioned country. These
were exhibited by Dr. Cabanis at a meeting of the German Ornithological Society held on the 10th of
October, 1872, when the following note was given respecting the Podoces :—‘ The birds were found nesting
in the Steppes on low trees, the nest being placed about the height of a man from the ground. The cry of
Podoces is remarkably loud and like that of a Garrulax.” ;

The accompanying description has been taken from Lord Lilford’s specimen ae

Adult.—General colour clear grey ; the forehead, eyebrow, and a circlet of feathers round the eye white ;
in front of the latter a triangular patch of black ; ear-coverts a little lighter grey than the crown; least Teg
coverts grey like the back, the greater series white, with black bases ; primary coverts evan Nae
black at base of inner web; primaries pure white, except towards the ends, ee are ee as also the
shafts of the quills ; the secondaries white, the bases black, shaded with metallic green, this Blas a
increasing diagonally on the secondaries and occupying nearly the whole of the Se Ce a
patch of white at the extreme tips; upper tail-coverts entirely black, shaded with metallic ce ; a
white ; fore neck black, forming a conspicuous patch ; esl of under surface ot co ae ae a
of pale pink ; the abdomen and under tail-coverts white ; under Ce pure ie o Se
quills black, forming a bar right across the wing; bill horn-colour; legs brown. ‘Total leng ;
culmen 1:3, wing 4°7, tail 4, tarsus 1-9.

The figures are the size of life.