516 THE CORAN. 



It is by no means nncommon in several parts of Europe, and in Russia assembles in little 

 flocks. Towards the shores of the Caspian Sea it is found in greater numbers, the flocks being 

 of considerable size, and all appearing (in the month of December) to consist of birds whicli 

 have not put on, or which have alivady put ofl", their nuptial plumage. This bird feeds upon 

 insects, herbs, grasses, and seeds, and its flesh is very good, having been compared to that of a 

 young pheasant. The eggs are placed on the ground among a tuft of rank lierbage in which 

 the bird can lie concealed ; their number is a])Out four, and their color olive-brown. 



The male, when in full phamage, is a decidedly handsome bird. The top of the head is 

 fawn and black, and the sides of the face and neck are slaty -gray. Around the neck runs a 

 broad gorget of black, cut by two white bands, one narrow and forming a ring round the neck, 

 and the other broader and of semilunar shape, just across the top of the breast. Tlie upper 

 parts of the body are fawn, mottled profusely with black, and the wings are beautifully 

 marked with black and white. The xmder surface of the body is white. The female is with- 

 out the beautiful black and white stripes on the neck and chest, and her breast, sides, and 

 flanks are barred with black. Except during the breeding season, the male has the same 

 plumage. The total length of this bird is about seventeen inches. 



There are many other Bustards scattered over the world, some being well known in India 

 under the title of Florikans, and others being distributed over Africa. The Houbaka, or 

 RuFP^LED Bustard, is well known on account of its curious-plumed ruffles and the sport which 

 it affords to Algerian falconers. There are also two South African species, the Pauw and the 

 Coran, which are often casually mentioned in the works of African travellers. Both these 

 birds belong to the genus Eupodotis, and of them Captain Drayson has kindly given me the 

 following account : — 



"The Pauw bird is more sought for by the pot-hunter than any other in South Africa. 

 Its size is about that of a turkey, and its flesh delicious. On the breast of this bird there are 

 two colored meats. First, there is a dark brown, similar to that of the grouse ; but beneath 

 this there is white meat, whic-h is similar in appearance to chicken's flesh. 



" The Pauw is usually found on tlie plains, wliicli it prefers to bushy country ; for as it is 

 a very crafty bird, it does not like to give tlie sportsman an opportunity to stalk it. When 

 the long grass of the plains has been burnt, and the young grass began to shoot ujj. then would 

 numbers of Pauws assemble on the ground, and search for the worms and slugs which became 

 visible. There was little chance, however, of approaching within two hundred yards of the 

 bird at these times, as the whole flock would take flight immediately they believed them- 

 selves in danger, and they had formed a very fair estimate of the distance at whicli a smooth- 

 bore would be dangerous. The flight of the Pauw was something like the heron's, except 

 that when it puiiDosed settling, it would skim for a considerable distance with its wings quite 

 rigid. 



"The bird being rather heavy, with the appearance of a full habit of body, it could not 

 take flight very readily. When it was possessed of a good feeding locality it seemed disin- 

 clined to fly away, although its sense of danger was apparent. The sportsman might then 

 probably reach to within one hundred yards of the bird, particularly if there happened to be 

 only one near him, and if he did not look attentively in the direction of the Pauw. It was 

 still necessary, however, to ride round the circumference of a circle of which the Pauw was 

 the centre, and, by decreasing the radius, to approach nearer and nearer. If the Pauw 

 crouched, then it usually depended upon the accuracy of the shooting whether or not the bird 

 was killed ; for the sportsman might then gradually narrow the radius of his circle, until he 

 was within seventy or eiglity yards, when he might dismount, if on horseback, and run in 

 towards the bird, discharging the dose of buck-shot just as the Pauw opened wide his wings. 

 These birds are not confined to any particular locality, but seem to range over any country 

 within a radius of a hundred miles or so. 



"The Coran is much smaller than the pauw. is longer, in proportion, in the leg. and is 

 i"arely seen in flocks. It is quite as much esteemed for the table as the larger bustard, and 



