260 THE FOOD OF BIRDS IN INDIA. 



In Rajputana (Deola, &c.), where this bird comes for breeding 

 purposes, it feeds largely on green blister beetle (Cantharis tenui- 

 collis], which often taints the flesh of this bird. 



1417. Sypheotis bengalensis. Bengal Florikin. From Feb- 

 ruary to April it may be seen stalking about the thin grass early 

 in the morning, and it is noticed to be often fourd about newly 

 burnt patches : one or more may be noticed making their way to 

 some cultivated spot, a pea field. 



In September and October when it feeds on the blister fly 

 (Cantharids), the florikin is considered unfit for food. Bombay 

 Gaz., Broach II, 359. Or mustard field to make its morning 

 repast after which it flies back to some thick patch of grass to 

 rest during the rest of the day. It feeds chiefly on insect food, 

 grasshoppers, beetles and caterpillars, but will also eat small lizards, 

 snakes, centipedes, &c., and Hodgson says, sprouts and seeds of 

 various plants, and that their diet is chiefly vegetables. This, 

 however, is opposed both to my experience and the analogy of the 

 other members of this family. It occasionally, however, does eat 

 sprouts and flowers of certain plants, but whether from desire or 

 taken in along with some grashopper or beetle, I cannot say. Jerd. 

 B. I. Ill, 616. 



Patches of cultivation, particularly of mustard plants (Rai, 

 Tori and Sarsori) are acceptable to it as multiplying its chances 

 of acceptable food. 



The exquisitely flavoured bird is a rather promiscuous feeder : 

 small lizards, young snakes, insects of most sorts, but above all 

 locusts, and after them grasshoppers, beetles, the sprouts and seeds 

 and succulent runners of various grasses, berries, strong fruits, 

 aromatic lactiferous leaves and stems of various plants, with 

 mustard tops and other dainties, all contributing to its nourish- 

 ment. The largest portion of its usual food is vegetable, but 

 insects abound, and especially locusts, and many are almost exclu- 

 sively eaten Cerealia are eschewed, but plenty of hard seeded 

 grasses and such like are taken and a goodly portion of gravel, &c.. 

 to digest them. H. M. G. B. I, 25, &c. 



