174 GAME-BIRDS OF INDIA 



mentions having seen above thirty on one small hill. This writer 

 states his belief that they are never seen in any district that is not 

 characterized by hills as well as plains ; but this, from my own 

 experience, I would merely interpret that they do not frequent alluvial 

 plains, but prefer the undulating country ; for I have seen them on 

 extensive plains, where there were merely a few ridges or eminences, 

 and nothing deserving the name of a hill close at hand. Towards 

 the close of the rains, and in the cold weather before the long grass 

 is cut down, the Bustard will often be found, at all events in the 

 heat of the day, concealed in the grass, but not for the purpose of 

 eating the seeds of the Eoussa grass, as the writer above alluded to 

 imagines, rather for the large grasshoppers that abound so there, and 

 which fly against you at every few steps you take. During the cold 

 weather the Bustard frequently feeds, and rests during the day like- 

 wise, in wheat-fields. When the grass and corn is cut, and the 

 bare plains no longer afford food to the Bustard, it will be found 

 along the banks of rivers where there is long grass mixed with 

 bushes, or the edges of large tanks, or low jungle where there is 

 moderately high grass, or it wanders to some district where there is 

 more grass, for though they do not migrate, yet Bustards change 

 their ground much according to the season, and the supply of grass- 

 hoppers and other insects. The hen birds, remarks the writer 

 quoted above, generally congregate together during the rains, are 

 very timid, and frequently, when a sportsman is pursuing a single 

 one, she will attempt to seek safety, fatally for herself, in some large 

 bush, particularly if the gunner turn aside his head, and affects not 

 to see her at the moment of hiding. The cock-birds at this season 

 feed a mile or so apart from the hens, and stretching their magnifi- 

 cent white necks, stride along most pompously. Besides grass- 

 hoppers, which may be said to be their favourite food, the Bustard 

 will eat any other large insect, more especially Mylahris, or blistering 

 beetle, so abundant during the rains ; the large Btiprestis, Scarabaei, 

 caterpillars, &c., also lizards, centipedes, small snakes, &c. Mr. 

 Elliott found a quail's egg entire in the stomach of one, and they 

 will often swallow pebbles or any glittering object that attracts 

 them. I took several portions of a brass ornament, the size of a 

 No. 16 bullet, out of the stomach of one Bustard. In default of 

 insect food, it will eat fruit of various kinds, especially the fruit of 

 the Byr {Zizyphiis jujubaj and Caronda {Carissa carandas), grain, 

 and other seeds and vegetable shoots. 



" The Bustard is polygamous, and at the breeding-season, which 

 varies very greatly according to the district, from October to March, 

 the male struts about on some eminence puffing out the feathers 

 of his neck and throat, expanding his tail, and ruffling his wings, 

 uttering now and then a low, deep moaning call heard a great way 



