THE BUSTARD TRIBE 2225 



tained, although not without the expenditure of time and trouble." Mr. Hume 

 believes that the Indian bustard lays only a single egg, the two eggs which are not 

 unfrequently found on the ground at a distance of a yard or so apart probably be- 

 longing to different birds. 



The hubara (Hztbara undulata) of Northern Africa and the nearly- 

 g allied Macqueen's bustard (H. macqueeni) of Western Asia, represent 



a genus characterized by the rather short legs, the lengthened and 

 basally-depressed bill, and the presence of a ruff on the neck and a crest on the head, 

 the latter appendages being larger in the male than the female. Breeding in Turkes- 

 tan and Southwestern Siberia, as well as in Afghanistan and Northern Persia, Mac- 

 queen's bustard ranges during the winter into Northwestern India and Southern 

 Persia, from whence a few individuals straggle into Eastern and Central Europe. 

 In India this species usually makes its appearance in September, departing again 

 with the commencement of the hot season at the end of March or beginning of April. 

 During its sojourn there it may be met with in pairs, or even solitary, although far 

 more generall}' in small flocks; its favorite haunts being barren plains dotted here 

 and there with small patches of covert. It is a silent bird, and chiefly a vegetable 

 feeder, although its African cousin is said to be insectivorous. Preferring running 

 to flying, Mr. Hume states that Macqueen's bustard, when on an open plain, has 

 a habit of squatting close to the ground beneath a protecting bush or stone, and is 

 at such times invisible even to a practiced eye. Directly, however, it reaches taller 

 covert, it raises itself to its full height in order to have a good view of its pursuers. 

 In districts where camels are commonly employed, these birds are easily approached 

 by a gunner mounted on one of those animals. 



Nearly allied to the bustards are the Indian birds known as floricans, 

 of which there are two species, namely, the Bengal florican (Sypheo- 

 tides bengalensis} , and the lesser florican (S. aurita}. They are characterized by the 

 moderately-long, arched, and somewhat broad beak; the long legs, in which a con- 

 siderable portion of the tibia is bare; and by the males (which are smaller than the 

 females) undergoing a second molt in spring, after which the plumage becomes 

 mostly black, with more or less white on the wings, while either a head crest or ear 

 tuft is developed, and the plumes of the breast may become much lengthened. The 

 hen birds and young males are colored much after the ordinary bustard type, and 

 the former undergo no spring molt. In the case of the lesser florican, the male of 

 which has an ear tuft in place of a crest, it is known that the winter plumage of both 

 sexes is alike, but there has been some doubt whether this is so with the larger 

 species, although it probably is. 



Floricans are exclusively Indian birds, spending the whole of their time in the 

 country, although the smaller species makes seasonal migrations from one district 

 to another. The dark and conspicuous breeding plumage of the male would of itself 

 be sufficient to indicate a difference in the habits of these birds from those of other 

 bustards. We find, indeed, it stated by Hodgson that although the Bengal species 

 dwells exclusively upon plains, yet it never frequents "nude or cultivated plains. 

 Shelter of nature's furnishing is indispensable to it, and it solely inhabits widespread- 

 ing plains, sufficiently elevated to be free from inundation, and sufficiently moist to 

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