TCD MS 10516 folio 62 verso
[12th October 1916] Large packs of sand-Grouse used to come for water to the brink of the river. I was able to identify only two species, the Spotted Sand-grouse, Pteroclurus senegallus and The Large Pin-tailed Sand-grouse, P. alchata though, I have no doubt, other species were also present. The birds appeared in enormous numbers. One evening no less than 190 fell to ten guns. On the sandy desert they are easily alarmed and difficult to approach on foot, but will allow a rider on horseback to come with twenty yards of the pack.
A pretty little robin* with a charming note used to frequent the date palms along the river banks. It was the brightest and most homely little creature in this desert land. It stayed with us throughout the hot season and, after nesting, grad-
*Probably Erithacus gutturalis: See my field notes