Illustrations of Indian Ornithology. 



running or feeding. Its flesh is very delicate, and of excellent flavour, and it is 

 the most esteemed here of all the game birds. Its pursuit is consequently a favorite 

 sport, and from the open nature of the ground it frequents, it is well adapted for 

 being hawked. I have killed it occasionally with the Luggur, but generally with the 

 Shaheen, and have already (at Plate xii) given an account of the manner of hunting 

 it. Should the Shaheen miss her first stoop, I have seen the Florikin accelerate its 

 speed so greatly, that the falcon was unable to come up with it again under 600 

 yards or so. I have seen one struck dead by the Wokhab, Jquila Vindhiana ; I 

 had slipped a Luggur at it, which was in hot pursuit, though at some little distance 

 behind, when two of these Eagles came down from a vast height, and joined in the chase. 

 One of them made a headlong swoop at it, which the Florikin most skilfully avoided, only 

 however to fall a victim to the talons of the other, which stooped almost immediately 

 after its confederate, and dashed the poor bird lifeless to the ground. It had not, 

 however, time to pick it up, for I rode up, and the Eagles soared off most unwillingh*, 

 and circled in the air long above me. The Florikin had its back laid open the whole 

 length. The Luggur on seeing the Eagles join the chase, gave up at once and returned 

 to the falconer's fist. 



The Florikin is occasionally snared by some of the bird-catchers, but as this 

 is a very uncertain process for catching a bird of such wandering habits, the gun is 

 had resort to in general, and considerable numbers are brought into the markets in 

 the districts where they abound — and fetch from half a rupee to a rupee each. 



The Florikin is called by the Mussulmans of Southern India Churz. Latham 

 I see gives this name, calling it Churrus and Cirris, which indeed is much the pronoun- 

 ciation of the word. In the Telinga language it is sometimes called, I am informed, 

 Kdmi-ledi-pitta, but generally 7iela-nemUi, or ground Peacock ; the Mahratta name, 

 Tun-mor, having exactly the same meaning, and in Hardwicke's notes (says Latham) 

 the Otis Be?igalensis, also called Florikin in Bengal, and Churz in Hindustani, is 

 called in Sanscrit Trlna mayara, (properly Trina mayura) which means grass Peacock. 

 Its Tamool name I have already given. Its name in Canarese is Kun-nowl, which 

 has much the same signification. It appears that the Bengal sportsmen apply the word 

 Florikin only to the large O. Bengaletisis, since named deliciosa by Gray, and Himalayanus 

 by Vigors ; and they call our bird the leek, or lesser Florikin. The origin of the word 

 Florikin is not exactly known, but I have heard that either it, or Flanderkin, was 

 the old English name for the little bustard of Europe. Latham gives, on the authority 

 of various drawings, the Native name Oorail, which I have not heard ; Chulla Churz, Ab- 



