MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 911 



about 80 per cent, of the birds shot are males. There can be no doubt 

 about this, for they are as distinct from each other as the wild duck is from 

 the mallard. Florican have very peculiar habits. I do not think they pair, 

 or that they are polygamous. They would appear to go in for polyandry, 

 if one can apply such a term to birds. In the breeding season the males have 

 a most peculiar custom of leaping several feet in the air, at the same t me 

 uttering a call very similar to two sticks hit rapidly together or the croak of 

 a frog. This is done with a view to attract the females. The latter come to 

 the males for the purpose of mating, but once eggs have been laid and incuba- 

 tion has commenced there appears to be no companionship between them ; 

 therefore it does not matter if the males are shot. 



Fortunately florican are of a very skulking nature, and are difficult to flush. 

 A female is rarely put up, and the males only betray themselves by their 

 antics while love-making, which enables them to be easily marked down. But 

 for this, I fancy they would be as difficult to find as the females. A florican 

 is not a difficult bird to shoot, unless you give him a chance by missing him the 

 first time he is flushed. In such a case he will fly some distance, and will 

 either get up just out of range or let you pass over him, or do something 

 equally annoying. To bring him to bag will then probably entail a good deal 

 of walking and patience. As a rule he gets up within easy range, and flies, 

 very slowly, straightway. One pellet seem sufficient to bring him down. I 

 have seen some marvellously long shots made at them. In spite of this there 

 is an indescribable charm about florican shooting. I think it is because it 

 comes in with the monsoon, which puts an end to the long hot weather, 

 brazen skies, hot winds, closed doors, and the like. There is no more welcome 

 sound than that of the rain ; it refreshes the earth, which gives off that 

 delightfully earthy smell, fills wells and rivers, makes a rushing stream of a 

 dried-up nullah, gives hopes of cool nights and days, and of fodder for cattle, 

 and a hundred other benefactions for mankind in general. I know I always 

 looked forward to it. as it meant cloudy days, and being able to be out at 

 any and all times. 



I will now give an account of a typical day's shooting. Your shikari having 

 reported that he has marked down a certain number of florican, you arrange to 

 go out on Thursday, always a brigade holiday in India. An early start must be 

 made, in order to reach the ground betimes, for once it begins to get warm 

 florican cease " jumping," when it is difficult to find them. The country cart 

 cracks are usually very poor indeed, and almost impassable in parts. I usually 

 made use of a district or shikar tonga, as I preferred it to riding a long dis- 

 tance. This trap was just suited to the roads it had to cross : in fact, it would 

 go over almost any road (except, perhaps, Piccadilly IX Another advantage 

 of this conveyance was that there was room for one tiffin basket and drinks 

 in it. Having completed arrangements, an early start is made, and the 

 shooting ground is reached shortly after daylight. Here the shikari meets you 

 and informs you that he has five birds marked down. Coolies are engaged 

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