214 GAME-BIRDS OF INDIA 



and circled in the air long above me. The Florihin had its back 

 laid open the whole length." {Jerdon's III. huh Orn. I.e.) 



It would seem a favourite prey of vs^ild as well as tame falcons 

 and eagles, for Hume also says that one of the very few specimens he 

 obtained in the Etawah district was killed by a Bonelli's eagle after 

 he had flushed it. 



The flight of Sypheotis aurita is much like that of other bustards, 

 but the wing-strokes are rather quicker. Blanford says: "It flies 

 well, with a quicker flight than other bustards, having, when flying, 

 a slight but peculiar resemblance to a duck." By " quicker flight," 

 Blanford probably refers to a quicker wing-movement and not 

 actually to a faster flight, for the flight of the Likh is certainly not 

 as fast as that of the bigger birds of this family. 



When flushed it often flies a considerable distance, and is then 

 very hard to put up again, as it either squats close, allowing a line 

 of beaters to pass over it, or it runs to a great distance and eventually 

 rises far from where it was seen to alight. It is very strong on the 

 leg and makes it way through thin grass or scrub-jungle at an almost 

 incredible rate, far faster than a sportsman can walk. Jerdon notes 

 that " when walking or running it raises its tail, as is represented 

 in the drawing, the lateral feathers diverging downwards, whilst 

 those of the centre are most elevated, as is seen in domestic fowls, 

 etc., forming what Swainson calls an erect or compressed tail." 



The voice of the Lesser Florican during the breeding-season is 

 said to be a harsh croak, this being indulged in by the bird during 

 its nuptial flights. The voice of the hen at this time is described 

 by Wendon as " a low, clucking cry," but whether this differs from 

 that of the male or not he does not say. According to Jerdon, " it 

 is said to have a feeble plaintive chirp or piping note when running 

 or feeding," and he also says that, " when flushed it utters a kind of 

 sharp quirk or note of alarm." A personal friend of mine, who has 

 spent much time watching these birds, gives them credit for a rather 

 large vocabulary. He remarks in epistold : — 



"These Floricans have many notes besides the drum or croak 

 they give vent to in the breeding-season. When moving about 

 feeding they constantly utter a low chuckle and also the chh-p or 

 piping note referred to by Jerdon. Males and females also call to one 

 another iu a croak like that just mentioned, but softer and lower." 



