EUPODOTIS. 195 



1414. Eupodotis edwardsi. TJte Great Indian Bustard. 



Otis edwardaii, Gray m Hardw. Ill Ind. Zool. i, pi. 59 (1830-32) ; 



Hume, S. F. i, p. 227 ; Adam, S. F. i, p. 393 : ii, p. 339. 

 Otis nigriceps, Vigors, P.Z.S. 1831, p. 35; SykeSj P. Z. S. 1832, 



p. 155. 



Eupodotis edwardii, Bfyth, Cat. p. 258. 



Eupodotis edwardsii, Jerdon. B. I. iii, p. C07 ; Stoticzka, J. A. S. B. 

 xli, pt. 2, p. 250 ; Hayes Lloyd, Ibis, 1873, p. 415 ; Hume, N. $ F. 

 p. 557 ; Sutler, S. F. iv, p. 9 ; ix, p. 424 ; Hume $ Marsh. Game 

 B. i, p. 7, pi. ; iii, p. 423, pi. i (eggs) ; Davids. Sf Wend. S. F. vii, 

 p. 87 ; Ball, ibid. p. 226; Hume, Cat. no. 836 ; Wilson, S. F. viii, 

 p. 490; F. W. Butler, ibid.-, id. S. F. x, p. 161; W. Elliott, 

 P. Z. 8. 1880, p. 486 ; Tostems, S. F. x, p. 1(57 : Davidson, ibid. 

 p. 318 ; Barnes, Birds Bom. p. 320; id. Jour. Bom. N. If. Soc. i, 

 p. 57; vi, p. 11 ; Oates in Humes N. 8f E. 2nd ed. iii, p. 375; 

 Shai'pe, Cat. B. M. xxiii, p. 325 ; Rayment, Jour. Bom. N. H. Soc. 

 ix, p. 107. 



Tugdar, Punjab ; Gurayin, Hariana ; Sohun, Gughunbher, Hukna. H. ; 

 Serailu, H. (Nerbudda) ; Bhtrar, Saugor; Hum, Mahr. ; Mdrdhonk, 

 Mdldhonk, Kdrndhonk, Karfunk, Deccan ; Tokdar of Mahomedan 

 Falconers: Gurahna, Siiid ; Bat-meka, Bat-myaka, Tel.; Batta mekha, 

 Yanadi ; Gunad, Pardi ; Kanal-Myle, Tarn. ; Heri-hukki, Ari-kujina- 

 hukki, Yerc-iaddu, Can. 



Coloration. Male. Forehead, crown, and occipital crest black, 

 rest of head and whole neck white in old birds, minutely barred 

 with black in younger individuals ; back, scapulars, smaller coverts, 

 tertiaries, and rump minutely and beautifully vermiculated with 

 black and buff ; median wing-coverts blackish brown, more or less 

 tipped with white : greater wing-coverts dark grey, black on outer 

 edge and tipped white ; outer primaries dark brown, passing into 

 dark grey on inner primaries and secondaries, the inner secondaries 

 becoming vermiculated and passing into the coloration of the ter- 

 tiaries, inner primaries and all secondaries tipped with white, basal 

 portion of inner webs on the later primaries with white bands ; 

 tail greyer than back, but similarly vermiculated, all feathers 

 except the middle pair with a blackish -brown end and the outer- 

 most tipped with white beyond the brown ; lower parts white 

 except a black band across the breast, corresponding to the limit 

 between the white neck and brown back, a few black feathers 

 intervening round the hind neck ; feathers around vent, lower 

 tail-coverts, and generally some of the thigh-coverts, blackish 

 brown with white tips. 



The female is much smaller and has narrow blackish vermicu- 

 lations on the neck, the black pectoral gorget is imperfect. Young 

 birds have buff tips to the feathers of the crown and mantle, 

 forming pale spots. 



The nestling is covered with down, buff above with black 

 markings on the head and mantle, whitish below. 



Bill dusky above, yellowish beneath ; irides pale yellow with 

 some brownish specks ; legs and feet dingy pale yellow (Jerdon). 



Length of male about 48; tail 12'5; wing 27: tarsus 7'8 ; bill 

 from gape 4*5 : length of female 37 ; tail 9-5 ; wing 21 ; tarsus 



o2 



