THE BUSTARD TRIBE 2223 



returning in still greater numbers in October, when it is said that in crossing the 

 plains to the south of the Caucasus they reach to millions. Although in many of 

 their habits resembling the larger species, Mr. Hume states that their flight is very 

 different, and that they often rise to a great height, and will flutter and twist about 

 in the air. At other times, however, they fly rapidly and straight, and when on 

 the -wing always call continually. Wary in the cool of the morning and evening, 

 during the heat of the day they lie close in the mustard fields, which are their fa- 

 vorite haunts in the Punjab. "They rise suddenly," writes Mr. Hume, "with a 

 great pat pat of the wings; and, though quite invisible till they rise, startle one with 

 the great breadth of pure white the}' suddenly reveal, the whole of the secondaries 

 and much of the primaries being white. ' ' 



An extinct bustard belonging to this or one of the allied genera has been de- 

 scribed by the writer from the middle Miocene rocks of Bavaria, and thus serves to 

 indicate the comparative antiquity of the group. 



Africa south of the Sahara is the home of a number of species of 

 bustards belonging to a genus (Eupodotis} , distinguished from the 

 preceding by the greater length of the beak and legs, and of which 

 there is an outlying representative in India (E. edwardsi}, and others in China and 

 Australia (E. australis). The wings are large and long, and the plumage of the 

 two sexes is nearly similar, although the females lack the short pouches found in 

 the males of most of the species. As there are a great number of these 

 bustards, and their general type of coloration conforms to that obtaining in the 

 members of the preceding genus, it would be useless to attempt the description of 

 any particular species, and our notice may therefore be confined to their habits. 

 The great Indian bustard frequents open bare or grassy plains, and in the rainy 

 season collects in small flocks, while in the cold weather it may be observed in 

 wheat fields, to which it resorts for the purpose of feeding on grasshoppers which 

 form its favorite. food. Failing insect food, it will, however, take to fruit and 

 seeds. When flushed, it generally flies for a long distance at a low elevation before 

 settling again. This species differs from the common bustard in being polygamous; 

 and during the breeding season the males, like many other members of the family, 

 are in the habit of making a display before the females, probably for the purpose of 

 attraction. Describing this display, Mr. Hume remarks that, " first the male be- 

 gins to strut about, holding his head up as high as if he wanted to lift himself off 

 his legs; then, after a few turns, he puffs out the upper part of the throat just under 

 the jaws then draws it in again, then puffs it again, and so on, two, three, or four 

 times, and then suddenly out goes the whole throat down to the breast, and that 

 part of it next the latter swells more and more; his tail, already cocked, begins to 

 turn right back, and the lower throat bag gets bigger and bigger and longer and 

 longer, till it looks to be within six inches of the ground. All the feathers of the 

 throat stand out, and, looked at in front, he seems to have a huge bag covered with 

 feathers hanging down between his legs, which wobbles about as he struts here and 

 there, with wings partly unclosed, and occasional sharp snappings of his bill. 

 From time to time he utters a sort of deep moan, and stands quite still, and then off 

 he struts again close up to the female, and then away from her." In addition to 



