THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA A^D CEYLOX. 733 



■"■' quicker flight " Blanford probably refers to a quicker wing move- 

 ment and not actually to a faster flight, for the flight of the Likh 

 is certainly not as fast as that of the bigger bii'ds of this family. 



When flushed it often flies a considerable distance and is then 

 very hard to put up again, as it either scjuats close, allowing a line 

 of beaters to pass over it, or it runs to a great distance and even- 

 tually rises far from where it was seen to alight. It is very strong 

 ■on the leg and makes its way through thin grass or scrub jungle at 

 an almost incredible rate, far faster than a sportsman can walk. 

 Jerdon notes that " when walking or running it raises its tail, as 

 is represented on the drawing, the lateral feather diverging down- 

 wards, whilst those of the centre are most elevated, as is seen in 

 domestic fowls, etc., forming what Swainson calls an erect or com- 

 j)ressed tail." 



The voice of the Lesser Florican during the breeding season is 

 said to be a harsh croak, this being indulged in by the bird during 

 its nuptial flights. The voice of the hen at this time is described 

 by Wenden as " a low clucking cr}^ " but whether this differs from 

 that of the male or not he does not say. According to Jerdon " it 

 is said to have a feeble plaintive chirp or piping note when run- 

 ning or feeding'' and he also says that when flushed it utters a 

 kind of sharp qiiirk or note of alarm."' A personal friend of 

 mine, who has spent much time watching these birds, gives 

 them credit for a rather large vocabulary. He remarks in 

 eijistola: "These Floricans have many notes besides the drum or 

 «roak they give vent to in the breeding season. When moving 

 4ibout feeding they constantly utter a low chuckle and also the 

 chirp or piping note referred to b}^ Jerdon. Males and females 

 also call to one another in a croak like that just mentioned, but 

 softer and lower." 



The Lesser Florican not only suffers from the so-called sports- 

 man who persistently shoots it throughout the breeding season, 

 but they are also much persecuted by native snarers and bird 

 ■catchers wherever and whenever they appear. Col. Fenton writes 

 to me that he never came across these bird-catchers in Kathiawar, 

 but that in the Deccan '•' the phansi paxlees or professional snarers 

 .never gave the birds anj^ rest, and it is not surprising if they have 



