112B JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI. 



(= about 70 mm. x 47 mm.), respectively, and the smallest 2-28" 

 and 1-67" (=57-9 mm. x 42-5 mm.). 



When fresh the great majority of Sypheotis hengcdensis eggs are 

 decidedly a bright greenish olive-green, but very soon after being 

 blown they become somewhat paler, and in a year or two often 

 lose much of their green tint and become more an olive-brown. 

 The gloss, also, which in newly taken eggs is generally highly 

 developed, pales considerably with time, though some retain it for 

 many years and few lose it altogether. 



In my article on the breeding of the Florican which appeared 

 in Volume XVII of this Journal, I commented on the close-time 

 needed for the protection of this bird and then said that it was 

 probable that the time selected should be from the 1 st March to 

 the 1st October. This period is especially required for females, 

 but as the male bird is promiscuous in his courtship and takes no 

 interest in the protection of eggs or young, the period for him 

 might be taken from the 1st March to the 1st August. 



As a matter of fact, throughout the area this bird inhabits, 

 nature puts a practical closure on all shooting in August and 

 September, and the extension of the shooting-season for males 

 would have no effect. It would be excellent if the shooting of 

 females could be altogether stopped for some years to come, as 

 there is no doubt that the Florican is one of our Game-Birds 

 which is seriously decreasing in numbers of late years. 



The Plate of this bird requires little comment. The iris of the 

 male should be deep brown and the upper mandible should have 

 far less yellow or none at all. The plumage of the head and 

 neck is also unusually thick and heavy, though a few birds may 

 have it as dense when just moulted. 



The female is excellent, but the spear-shaped centres to the 

 feathers of the back are perhaps a little too definite. 



(To be continued.) 



