208 GAME-BIEDS OF INDIA 



should doubt if it be correct. In the first place male birds which 

 display continually throughout the breeding-season seldom keep to 

 one wife for the whole period, nor, as a rule, are monogamous males 

 as pugnacious as are polygamous birds. Jerdon's description of the 

 display and pugnacity of the Likh certainly look like attributes of a 

 polygamous male. He writes : — 



" The full and perfect breeding-plumage is generally completed 

 during July and August. At this season the male bird generally 

 takes up a position on some rising ground, from which it wanders 

 but little, for many days even, and during the mornings especially, 

 but in cloudy weather at all times of the day, every now and then 

 rises a few feet perpendicularly into the air, uttering at the same time 

 a peculiar low croaking call, more like that of a frog or cricket than 

 that of a bird, and then drops down again. This is probably intended 

 to attract the females, who before their eggs are laid wander greatly, 

 or perhaps to summon a rival cock, for I have seen two in such 

 desperate fight as to allow me to approach within thirty yards before 

 they ceased their battle." 



A writer in the 'Field' of May 2nd, 1908, remarks of the Likh : — 



" Florican have very peculiar habits. I do not think they pair or 

 that they 'are polygamous. They appear to go in for polyandry, if 

 one can apply such a term to birds. In the breeding-season the 

 males have a most peculiar custom of leaping several feet into the 

 air, at the same time uttering a call similar to two sticks hit rapidly 

 together, or the croak of a frog. This is done to attract the females. 

 The latter come to the males for the purpose of mating, but once eggs 

 have been laid and incubation has commenced tliere appears to be no 

 companionship between them." 



The Bengal Floricans, males and females, undoubtedly do not 

 pair at all, and the male is neither polygamous or monogamous ; yet 

 its courting displays are identical with those of the Lesser Florican, 

 as is the habit of the male of displaying in one particular spot whilst 

 the females wander about the country. It is probable, therefore, 

 that when we come to know the domestic habits of Syplieotis aitrita 

 more intimately they will prove to be similar to those of Sypheotis 

 hengalensis. 



The Lesser Florican makes no nest in which to deposit her eggs, 

 nor does she, as a rule, even trouble to find or make a hollow for 

 this purpose, merely depositing them on the ground in some small 



