606 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



The Pressirostres may be distributed among the following 

 families, all of which, except the last, are represented in 

 India : — 



1. Otididce, Bustards and Floricans. 



2. Cursoridce, Courser-plovers. 



3. Glareolidce, Swallow-plovers. 



4. CharadridoB, Plovers. 



5. Hamatopodidae, Shore-plovers. 



6. Thinocoridce, Game-plovers, a purely American group. 



7. Gruidce, Cranes. 



Gray, in his List of Genera, places Thinocoridce among the 

 Rasorcs, and considers the Swallow-plovers and Shore-plovers 

 simply as sub-families of the Charadridce. 



Fam. Otidid^e. 



Bill rather short, stout, broad at the base, somewhat compressed 

 towards the tip ; upper mandible convex and slightly curved : 

 nostrils in a large membranous groove ; legs long, rather stout ; 

 tarsi reticulated ; three short toes united at the base by a small 

 membrane ; hind toe always absent ; claws short and blunt ; 

 wings ample, more or less pointed ; plumage mottled and game- 

 like. 



Bustards have the heavy aspect and form of Gallinaceous birds, 

 which they also approximate somewhat in the form of their bill, 

 and the short membrane at the base of their toes ; but their more 

 nude tibia, and their general anatomy ally them closely with the 

 Plovers. They differ, however, from these last by their less muscu- 

 lar stomach, and partially polygamous habits ; and they approach 

 the Cranes and Cassowaries, and perhaps are distantly related to 

 some of the Thinocoridce, and also to the Tinamidie. Their 

 plumage is beautifully mottled, light olive brown or fulvous and 

 black, and at the spring moult many of them assume various orna- 

 mental tufts and plumes, and more or less of a black colour, like 

 several Plovers. Their food is chiefly insects, occasionally in 

 dearth of this aliment, shoots of plants, grain, and vegetable matter. 

 They lay two to five eggs, (or more it is said,) of a dark olive brown 

 colour ; and, though not strictly migratory, they wander about a 



