OTIDIM:. 321 



of the year it is common in one part of the country, moving to 

 another as the breeding season commences. Most eggs are found 

 in July and August, but occasionally they are to be obtained as 

 early as March and as late as the middle of September. 

 The egg (there is only one) is placed on the ground, at the 

 base of a tussock of grass or bush, in a small depression. 



The eggs vary much in size, shape, and color. They are all more 

 or less oval, some are moderately broad ovals, pointed at one end ; 

 others are longish ovals, similar at both ends ; others again are 

 long and cylindrical. 



They vary from 275 to 3'42 inches in length, and in breadth 

 from 2-05 to 2'45. The average is 3'll.by 2'24. 



The shells are thick and strong, and very commonly exhibit 

 pimples at the large end. In color, they vary from a sort of drab to 

 dingy olive-green. Earthy- brown, pale olive brown, pale reddish- 

 brown, and more rarely pale leaden-blue varieties all occur. The 

 markings also vary in like manner, both in extent and intensity : 

 blotches, clouds, and streaks of a deep reddish -brown, occasionally 

 clearly defined, but more often so faint as to be mere mottlings, are 

 the usual characters ; not uncommonly the markings form an irre- 

 gular cap at the large eod, occasionally they are altogether 

 wanting. Some eggs are brilliantly glossy- white, others are dull, 

 and have little or no gloss. 



GENUS, Houbara, Bonap. 



Legs rather short ; neck of the male furnished with a ruff, 

 and occasionally crested ; bill rather lengthened, much depressed 

 at the base. 



Houbara macqueeni, J. E. Gr. 



837. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. II, p. 612; Butler, Guzerat ; 

 Stray Feathers, Vol. IV, p. 9 ; Murray's Vertebrate Zoology of 

 Sind, p. 218 ; Game Birds of India, Vol. I, p. 17. 

 THE HOUBAKA BUSTAKD. 

 Oobarra, Hin. 

 Tiloor, Sindi. 



<$. Length, 28 to 30'25 ; expanse, 51 '5 to 5775 ; wing, 15 to 

 16 ; tail, 8'5 to 10'25 ; tarsus, 3'5 to 4 ; bill from gape, 2'3 to 2'6 ; 

 weight, 4 to 5J Ibs. 



?. Length, 25 to 27*5; expanse, 47 to 51; wing, 14'25 to 

 15-25 ; tail, 775 to 9'25 ; tarsus, 315 to 3'6 ; bill from gape, 2 to 

 2'5 ; weight, 2f to 3J Ibs. 



Bill blackish, paler beneath ; irides pale to bright yellow ; legs 

 and feet pale dingy-yellow. 



Head beautifully crested ; the crest consisting of a series of 

 lengthened slender feathers in the centre of the crown, white, 

 with a black tip in front, wholly white behind ; upper plumage, 

 including the neck, pale buff, somewhat albescent on the wing- 

 coverts and deeper on the back ; upper tail-coverts and tail all 



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