618 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



or Mustard field, to make its morning repast ; after which it flies 

 back to some thicker patch of grass to rest during the heat of the 

 day. Birds, at this time, as well as during the earlier part of the 

 year, are usually found singly, sometimes in pairs, male and female 

 not far distant from each other ; or, as stated previously, three or 

 four will be found in some favored spot. 



According to Hodgson, the Florikin is neither monogamous, nor 

 polygamous, but the sexes live apart at no great distance ; and 

 this appears to be very probable. The Florikin breeds from June 

 to August. At this season the Cock-bird may be seen rising 

 perpendicularly into the air with a hurried flapping of his wings, 

 occasionally stopping for a second or two, and then rising still higher, 

 raising his crest at the same time, and pufRng out the feathers 

 of his neck and breast, and afterwards dropping down to the 

 ground, and he repeats this manffiuvre several times successively, 

 humming, as Hodgson asserts, in a peculiar tone. Such females as 

 happen to be near obey this saltatory summons ; and, according to 

 Hodgson, when a female approaches, he trails his wings, raises and 

 spreads his tail, humming all the while like a Turkey-Cock. I 

 have seen the Cock-bird performing this nuptial dance repeatedly, 

 but have not witnessed the subsequent ceremonials, which, however, 

 are likely enough. 



At this time the hen Florikin is generally to be found in lower 

 ground and thicker grass, and is flushed with difficulty, running 

 far, and almost allowing herself to be walked over. She lays from 

 two to four eggs, in some sequestered spot, Avell concealed in the 

 grass, of a dull olivaceous tint, more or less blotched and coloured 

 with dusky. Hodgson calls them sordid stramineous, minutely 

 dotted and more largely blotched and clouded with black ; he also 

 states that the young remain with their mother for nearly a year ; 

 but I look on this as doubtful. Two females are said not unfre- 

 quently to breed near each other. 



The flight of the Florikin is a steady, flapping flight, of no great 

 speed, and it seldom flies very far before alighting. It is occa- 

 sionally hawked with the Baz and Bhyree, It feeds chiefly on 

 insect food, grasshoppers, beetles and caterpillars, but will also 

 eat small lizards, snakes, centipedes, &c. ; and Hodgson says 



