12 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891. 



pors and locusts. They are not migratory in the true sense of the 

 word, but wander a good deal in search of food ; at one season of 

 the year they are common in one part of the country, moving to 

 another as the breeding season approaches. I think most eggs are 

 found in July and August, but occasionally they arc met with as 

 oarly as March and as late as September. 



The egg, there is only one, is placed on the ground, at the base of 

 a tussock of grass or stunted bush, generally in a small depression. 

 The eggs vary much in shape, size, and colour. They are all 

 more or less oval ; some are moderately broad ovals, pointed at one 

 end ; others are longish ovals, similar at both ends ; others again are 

 long and cylindrical. 



They vary from 2'75 to 3*42 inches in length and in breadth from 

 2 to 2-45. 



The shells arc thick and strong, and very commonly exhibit 

 pimples at the large end; in colour they vary from a sort of drab (the 

 usual type) to dingy olive-green. Earthy-, olive-, and pale reddish- 

 brown, and more rarely pale leaden-blue all occur. The markings 

 also vary in like manner, both in extent and in intensity ; blotches, 

 clouds, and streaks of a deep reddish-brown, occasionally clearly 

 defined, but more often so faint as to be mere mottlings, are the 

 usual characters ; not uncommonly the markings form an irregular 

 cap at the large end, and occasionally they are altogether wanting ; 

 some eggs are brilliantly glossy, while others are dull and have little 

 or no gloss. 



Personally) I have only taken one egg, this was near jSocmuch, but 

 I have received them from Sholapur, and am indebted to Mrs. 

 Pearson of Jhinjhinwara for a good series taken in the Runn of Cutch. 



Nccmuch, July. H. E. Barnes. 



Runn of Cutch, July and August. Mrs. Pearson. 



837.— THE HOUBARA BUSTARD. 



Houbara macqueeni, J. E. Gr. 



During the cold weather the Houbara is common in Sind and 

 Cutch ; it occurs but is rare in the country around Deesa. I shot 

 one on the plains near Mount Aboo, and another quite close to Deesa. 



