622 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



is only met with in Guzerat during the monsoon, which, as we shall 

 soon see, is the breeding season." 



The Leek or Lesser Florikin is found throughout India, from 

 near the foot of the Himalayas to the Southernmost districts, 

 but has not, I believe, been seen in Ceylon. It is more rare 

 in Northern India and Bengal, but has been killed even in 

 Arrakan. It is most abundant in Central and Western India during 

 the rains, and in Southern India in the cold weather, whilst those 

 that have occurred in Bengal and neighbouring districts have 

 chiefly been seen in the hot weather or commencement of the 

 rains. I saw it on the banks of the Ganges in April and May, 

 and know of its having been occasionally killed in Purneah in May 

 and June. In the Carnatic, Mysore, the Deccan, and Northern 

 Circars, it is chiefly found in the cold weather, from October to 

 February and March; and in the westernmost portion of Central 

 India and Western India, Guzerat, the neighbourhood of Malwah 

 and Indore, and the southernmost portion of Eajpootana, chiefly 

 during the rains, from June to September. The few that I saw in 

 Saugor and the neighbouring 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 great part of the eastern portion of Central India, from the 

 Godavery to Midnapore and Chota Nagpore, consists more or less 

 of forest and jungles, the majority are drawn westwards into 

 Malwah, Eajpootana, and Guzerat. Few occur in Malabar, but in 

 Southern Canara there is at least one locality where they may be 

 found in the 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 of the grain called IVarragoo, as to be called in Tamool 

 Warragoo holee, 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 



