54 



THE HUNTERS ARCADIA. 



so. as soon as she saw that I was on the exact line 

 that the game was taking, off she broke to the left 

 at racing pace, and after making a detour of several 

 hundred yards, headed it, taking every possible 

 opportunity both to let it see and get her wind. 

 The ruse worked -admirably, for as I hurried forward, 

 as if to meet her, three black-and-white winged 

 kooran flushed, out of which I took a brace. 



This bustard (Otis afroides] is a splendid bird, 

 larger than a blackcock and very strong upon the 

 wing. While in flight it is extremely clamorous, the 

 voice being harsh and not unlike a frequent repetition 

 of its own name (kooran). When forced to fly, it 

 will frequently continue to do so for several minutes, 

 not going off on end, but circling round at a con- 

 siderable distance from the sportsman, as if to make 

 a strict observation of him or to give warning to all 

 game, whether furred or feathered, by its oft-repeated 

 jarring, loud note, " that there is an intruder in their 

 vicinity that it would be well to give a wide 

 berth to." 



The colour of this kooran is black, with a white 

 bar across each wing ; the irides are dark chocolate 

 colour and the legs bluish-gray. 



