EUPODOTIS EDWABDSI 173 



respectively 3'0 (= 7fi'2 mm.) and 2'11 {= 53T) mm.), and the 

 average of 45 measured is 3'21 X 2'29 (= SI'S X 58'1 mm.), my 

 eggs therefore averaging considerably larger than Hume's. 



General Habits. — The Great Indian Bustard usually associates in 

 small flocks. In the cold weather two or three cocks or two or three 

 hens may be seen keeping one another company, but in the breeding- 

 season the parties consist, as a rule, of an old cock-bird with his 

 harem of two to six or more wives. Sometimes, however, they 

 collect in large droves. Jerdon says : " I have seen flocks of twenty- 

 five or more, and a writer in the ' Sporting Eeview ' mentions having 

 seen about thirty on one small hill." Mr. E. James also records that 

 on one occasion he counted more than thirty birds in a flock, and 

 Mr. S. Doig found no less than thirty-four birds feeding together in 

 one Jamba field. Such flocks as these must, however, be but rare, 

 though droves of eight or ten and upwards are often met with. 

 Major A. B. Burton informs me that an officer in the Hyderabad 

 Contingent came across seventeen birds together in the Eaidan Doab, 

 and Major E. W. Burton once saw nineteen birds at Tuggali, on the 

 S.M. Eailway, east of Guntakul, though on the latter occasion the 

 birds appear to have formed two flocks, one of six and one of thirteen. 

 Numerous other correspondents have met with flocks of ten or 

 twelve. On the other hand, solitary birds are constantly met with 

 at all times of the year ; in the cold season, especially, the birds 

 seem to be often seen singly, but even during the rainy season and 

 breeding-season cock-birds are often seen alone. These are probably 

 suffering from compulsory isolation, not having been able to attract 

 any females and unable to forcibly attach the harem of any other 

 male. Sometimes two or three such young males may be seen 

 together in the breeding-season, seemingly sympathizing with one 

 another for the absence of female society. 



There is still no general description of the habits of the Great 

 Indian Bustard better than that of Jerdon as quoted by Hume and 

 others. He writes: — 



" The Bustard frequents bare open plains, grassy plains inter- 

 spersed with low bushes, and occasionally high grass rumnahs. In 

 the rainy season large numbers may be seen together stalking over 

 the undulating plains of the Deccan or Central India. I have seen 

 flocks of twenty-five or more, and a writer in the ' Sporting Review ' 



