198 GAME-BIRDS OP INDIA 



Genus SYPHEOTIS. 



The principal generic distinction between the birds of this genus 

 and other bustards is the greater comparative length of the legs- 

 The tarsus in Eyplieotis is equal to rather more than one-third the 

 length of the wing, whereas in all other bustards it is only equal to 

 one-fourth. The chief characteristic relied on by Blanford was the 

 supposed fact of the males putting on a seasonal breeding-plumage. 

 It, however, now seems quite certain that the male Sypheotis hengcd- 

 ensls retains this adult plumage, when once fully acquired, throughout 

 the year, though the smaller bird, Sijplieotis aurita, does, on the 

 contrary, acquire an annual nuptial plumage. The primary quills of 

 both species are notched on the inner web and are very attenuated, 

 but especially so in aurita. 



In the breeding season the males of both species, and during the 

 whole year the fully adult males of Sypheotis bengalensis, have the 

 head and the whole of the lower parts black, and both species acquire 

 ornamental plumage either on the head or neck. Sypheotis bengalen- 

 sis is crested and has long, full feathers all down the neck to the 

 breast, whilst Syplieotis aurita has the feathers of the side of the 

 head and chin somewhat lanceolate and lengthened, and a curious 

 tuft of long feathers from each side of the head below the ear- coverts, 

 the longest of which have the stems narrowly webbed and the ends 

 spatulate. 



Sharpe divides Syplieotis into two genera, creating a new genus 

 Houbaropsis for the larger bird and retaining Sypheotis for the 

 smaller. The fact of the latter having a seasonal change of plumage 

 and the former not having one would add considerable strength to 

 the reasons for dividing them, but for the purpose of this work I 

 retain them in the one genus. 



Key to the Species. 



Wing 7 to 10 inches, tarsus 3'35 to 4'5 .S'. aurita. 



Wing 13 to 15 inches, tarsus 5 to 6'2 S. bengalensis. 



