THE LESSER FLORICAN OR LEEK 



shot the large florican in Assam, where it frequents 

 expanses of rough, coarse grass (ooloo grass), 

 provided that the latter be not too dense, and 

 that there are plenty of open spaces distributed 

 through it. In Assam, it is known as the "ooloo 

 mohr," i.e., the ooloo-grass peacock. 



The florican is much appreciated as a table 

 delicacy, and is on this account always shot when 

 met with. I used, when shooting florican, to put 

 a number of men in line, and walk with them 

 through the grass until a bird rose usually out 

 of shot of me when I marked it down (the first 

 flight is generally a short one), and then, walking 

 up quietly and alone, or with only one or two men, 

 to the spot, nearly always approached it within 

 easy distance before it got on the wing. Florican 

 fly slowly and heavily, and there is no possible 

 excuse for missing one of these birds if within 

 range. 



Though a large bird, the florican 's weight is 

 but 3j to 4j Ibs. according to Hume, though 

 Jerdon makes him heavier by three-quarters of a 

 pound. 



THE LESSER FLORICAN OR LEEK (Sypheotides awuta) 



I have shot this little florican, which weighs only 

 from i Ib. 2 oz. to i Ib. 10 oz., in Mysore when out 

 snipe shooting. It is uncertain in its appearances 

 in different localities, being plentiful in some seasons 

 and very rare in others. The Tumkur district of 

 the Mysore province contains good lesser florican 

 ground. The Bengal florican is not found in the 



383 



