486 SIR AV. ELLIOT ON THE INDIAN BUSTARD. [JuHB 15, 



7. Notes on the Indian Bustard {Eupodotis edwardsi), with 

 especial reference to its Gular Pouch. By Sir Walter 

 Elliot, K.C.S.I., F.R.S., F.Z.S. 



[Eeceiyed June 7, 1880.] 



When looking through some of the Society's 'Proceedings,' my 

 attention was drawn to a paper by Dr. jNIurie, in the volume of 1868 

 (p. 471), on the occurrence of a gular pouch in certain species of Oti- 

 didee, and on the probable use of such an organ, which, with reference 

 to observations made by him on an individual of Otis australis, he 

 considers to be " a subject callhig for more extended examination in 

 other members of the family." In this view, the following notice 

 of the habits of the Indian species {Eupodotis edwardsi) may not be 

 without interest. 



This Bustard is found in considerable numbers on the open basaltic 

 plains of the Dekhan, where I had many o[)portunities of observ- 

 ing it during a residence of several years in that part of India. So 

 common was it that the late Colonel Robert Mansfield, commanding 

 the Poonah Irregular Horse quartered at Seroor between Ahmadiiagar 

 and Poona, had killed several hundreds when I saw him in 1829, 

 and he was trying to make up his bag to 1000 birds, a feat which he 

 accomplished some three or four years afterwards, and which, when 

 the shy and wary character of the Bustard is considered, was thought 

 to be a remarkable incident of sportsmanship. 



I had often remarked the gular pouch with which the male is 

 furnished, and communicated some notes I had made on the subject 

 to the late Dr. Jerdon, who quoted them in his first Catalogue of the 

 Birds of India, published in the Madras Journal of Literature and 

 Science^. 



On the occasion there referred to, I was riding across an undulating 

 plain near the village of Scindaghi, in the Sholapur district, on the 

 morning of the 1 2th Oct. 1829, when I was attracted by a distant sound 

 as of a person moaning. Thinking it proceeded from some one in 

 pain, I turned towards the spot from which it came, and after riding 

 upwards of a mile, during which the noise became louder and more 

 distinct, I saw a large cock Bustard strutting about on a rising ground 

 with gesticulations so extraordinary that I stopped to watch him. 

 He paced round and round, ruffling his plumage, with wings sweep- 

 ing the ground, tail erect, neck distended, the feathers standing out 

 like a ruff, whilst he uttered the cry that had drawn me to the spot, 

 every now and again rushing forward a few paces, then wheeling 

 round, and pirouetting back again. I dared not approach very near, 

 fearing the suspicious disposition of the bird, who would have 

 made off as soon as he saw me ; but I watched him, whilst, to use 

 Mr. Bartlett's phrase, he was thus "showing off," evidently for the 

 purpose of attracting the hens, several of whom were seen flying 

 towards him. 



1 Yol. xii. p. 8, 1839^:0, and in the Collected Vol. p. 147. 



