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and the neighbourmg country occurred during the hot weather, at which time they leave the dried-up
‘districts of Southern India and migrate north in search of suitable shelter and food. As one part of the
eastern portion of Central India, from the Godavery to Midnapore and Coos Nagpore, consists more or less
of forest and jungles, the majority are drawn westward into Malwah, Rajpootana, and eT Few occur
in Malabar, but in Southern Canara there is at least one locality where they may be found in cold weather.

“The Lesser Florikin frequents long grass in preference to any other shelter; it is, however, often to be
met with in grain-fields, in fields of cotton and dholl, and in the Carnatic so much in those al the grain
called Warragoo, as to be called in Tamool Warragoo kolee, or Warragoo Fowl. It feeds chiefly in the
morning, and is then easily raised; but during the heat of the day it lies very close, and is often flushed with
difficulty. I have known an instance of one being killed by a horse stepping on it. Now and then an
exceedingly wary one is met with, which runs to a great distance and takes wing well out of shot. When
walking or running it raises its tail, the central feathers being those most elevated, while the lateral ones
diverge downwards, as in domestic fowls, &c. The chief food of the Florikin is grasshoppers, but I have
also found blister-beetles (Mylabris), Scarabe7, centipedes, and even small lizards in the stomachs of those I
have examined. When flushed suddenly it utters a kind of sharp “quirk” or note of alarm, and it is said
also to emit a feeble plaintive chirp or piping note when running or feeding. Its flesh 1s very delicate and
of excellent flavour, and in India is the most esteemed of all the game birds. Its pursuit is consequently a
favourite sport, and, from the open nature of the ground it frequents, it is well adapted for being hawked. I
have killed it occasionally with the Lugger (Kalco jugyer), but generally with the Shaheen (Kalco peregri-
nator). Should the latter miss her first stoop, I have known the Florikin accelerate its speed so greatly
that the Falcon was unable to come up with it again under 600 yards or more. I have seen one struck
dead by the Wokhab (Aquila vindhiana) ; J have slipped a Luger at it, which was in hot pursuit, though at
some little distance behind, when two of these Eagles came down from a vast height and joined in the
chase. One of them made a headlong swoop at it, which the Florikin most skilfully avoided, only, however,
to fall a victim to the talons of the other, which stooped almost immediately after its confederate, and
dashed the poor bird lifeless to the ground. It had not, however, time to pick it up, for [ rode up, and the
Eagles soared off most unwillingly, and circled in the air above me for a length of time. The Florikin had
its back laid open the whole length.

‘<A few appear to breed in all parts of Southern India from July to November, for I have put the hen-
bird off her nest in August in the Deccan, and in October near Trinchinopoly ; and have heard of the hen
incubating still later, up to January indeed; but the majority breed, in Guzerat, Malwah, and Southern
Rajpootana, from July to September. I have found the cock-bird commencing the assumption of the black
plumage at the end of April, and have killed examples with the black ear-tuft just beginning to sprout, but
with hardly any other black feathers appearing. In other instances I have noticed that the ear-tufts did not
make their appearance until the bird was quite mottled with black. The full breeding-plumage is generally
completed during July and August, at which season the male bird generally takes up a position on some
rismg ground, from which it wanders but little, for many days even; and during the morning especially, but
in cloudy weather at all times of the day, every now and then rises a few feet perpendicularly into the air,
uttering at the same time a peculiar low croaking call, more like that of a frog or cricket than that of a
bird, and then drops down again. This is probably intended to attract the females, who before their eggs
are laid, wander greatly ; or perhaps to summon a rival cock, for I have seen two in such desperate fight as
to allow me to approach within thirty yards before they ceased their battle. The female lays her eggs in
some thick patch of grass; they are four or five in number, of a dark olive colour, with or without a few
darker blotches, of a very thick stunted, ovoid form, very obtuse at the larger end. During this season the
females are very shy or wary, seldom rising, though often running great distances; and when closely
approached and unable to run further, perhaps without being seen, squatting so close as to allow a man or
dog almost to tread on them before they take flight.”

The male during the breeding-season has the head, neck, ear-tufts, middle wing-coverts, and under surface
black ; chin, lower part of the neck behind, and a large patch on the wing white; remainder of the plumage
light brown, beautifully mottled with dark brown; three outer primaries dull brown, the remainder barred
and mottled with dark brown; irides pale yellow, clouded with dusky; bill dark brown above, the edges of
the upper and the lower mandible yellowish.

The female is fulvous yellow, with the head, back, wings, and tail clouded and barred with deep brown ;
on the front, at the neck, two irregular brownish streaks; chin and throat white; under surface dull white ;
bill, legs, and irides as in the male.

The Plate represents the two sexes about the natural size.