THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 27 



12th January 1911. As already stated this bird is a female and 

 apparently not full grown. It is said to have weighed 5 lbs. when 

 cleaned which would have given a weight of about 8 lbs. to the 

 whole bird. 



Finally the skin of another young female has been secured by 

 Capt. Lyall, Chitral, and sent to the Bombay Society's Museum. 

 This bird was shot by Lieutenant Stirling on the 30th March 1911, 

 and Capt. Lyall in forwarding the specimen says in epistola : — " As 

 far as I know the Bustard has not been recorded in Chitral, but I 

 found that the Chitralis had got a name for the bird, ' Deo dagh,' 

 though it is said to be a rare one." 



It is interesting to note that all our records are of very young- 

 birds ; a corroboration of the theory that young birds travel and 

 migrate further than old ones. 



In its general habits the Great Bustard closely resembles our 

 Great Indian Bustard, but the few occasions on w^hich it has been 

 seen in India have not given much opportunity for observation, and 

 it is on European authors, therefore, that we must rely for inform- 

 ation. 



Dresser, in " European Birds " gives the following interesting 

 account of the habits of the Great Bustard : — ** The Great Bustard 

 frequents open, flat ground, preferring grassy plains or cultivated 

 land, but avoiding localities near human habitations, and places 

 where there are trees and bushes and where it cannot command ayi 

 uninterrupted view over a large tract of country. It is peculiarly 

 wary and shy ; and it is almost impossible to approach it within 

 gun shot range. Hilly country, and especially mountains, it avoids 

 altogether, and is never met with in the woodlands and forests. It 

 specially frequents cultivated fields, and is often found in those 

 where rapeseed, wheat and rye have been sown. It passes the 

 night in the open fields, choosing places where it cannot be 

 approached without taking alarm, and is so watchful that it is 

 impossible to surprise it when asleep. It leaves its night-quarters 

 at the first break of dawn, and during the hot summer days will 

 often take a siesta during the hottest part of the day, but it is then 

 equally wary and difiicult of approach. - It flies with more ease 

 than one would imagine, considering the size and weight of the 



