THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 309 



times of the year, in the cold season, especially, the birds seem to 

 be often seen singly, but even during the rains and breeding- 

 season cock birds are often seen alone. These are probably 

 suffering from compulsory isolation, not having been able to 

 attract any females and unable to forcibly attach the harem of any 

 other male. Sometimes two or three such young males may b& 

 seen together in the breeding season, seemingly sympathising 

 with one another for the absence of female society. 



There is still no general description of the habits of the Great 

 Indian Bustard better than that of Jerdon as quoted by Hum& 

 and others. He writes " The Bustard frecjuents bare open plains, 

 grassy plains interspersed with low bushes, and occasionally high 

 grass rumnahs. In the rainy season large numbers may be seen 

 together stalking over undulating plains of the Deccan or Central 

 India. I have seen flocks of twenty-live or more, and a writer in 

 the 8'poTting Review mentions having seen above thirty on one 

 small hill. This writer states his belief that they are never seen 

 in any district that is not characterized by hills as well as plains ; 

 but this, from vaj own experience I would merely interpret that 

 they do not frequent alluvial plains, but prefer the undulating 

 country ; for I have seen them on extensive plains, where there 

 were merely a few ridges or eminences, and nothing deserving the 

 name of a hill close at hand. Towards the close of the rains, and 

 in the cold weather before the long grass is cut down, the Bustard 

 will often be found, at all events in the heat of the day, concealed 

 in the grass, but not for the purpose of eating the seeds of the 

 Roussa grass, as the writer above alluded to imagines, rather for 

 the large grasshoppers that abound so there, and which ^j against 

 you at every few steps you take. During the cold weather the 

 Bustard frequently feeds, and rests during the day likewise, in 

 wheat fields. When the grass and corn is cut, and the bare plains 

 no longer afford food to the Bustard, it will be found along the banks 

 of rivers where there is long grass mixed with bushes, or the edges 

 of large tanks, or low jungle where there is moderatelj^ high grass, 

 or it wanders to some district where there is more grass, for though 

 they do not migrate, yet Bustards change their ground much ac- 

 cording to the season, and the supply of grasshoppers and other 



