Descriptive Inst of the Common Birds 
and less trumpet-like than those of the other 
cranes. 
It is a winter visitor to India. It is very 
common in the Deccan, Guzerat, and Katti- 
war ; less common in other parts of N. India, 
and rare in Lower Bengal and S. India. Its 
habits are like those of No. 177. (Illus. F. IV., 
p- 184; also I. G. III, p. 31.) 
The Bustards 
These come within the category of “ game 
birds,” and so none of them are treated of in 
‘this book. (Illus. I. G. L., pp. 1, 3, 7, 18.) 
180. Gidicnemus scolopax : The Stone-Cur- 
lew, or Stone-Plover, or Thick-knee. (F. 1418), 
(J. 859), (+1V.) 
This bird is very like a bustard, and is known 
to Anglo-Indian sportsmen as the Bustard- 
Florican. It is an .ashy- brown bird, each 
feather having a blackish streak down the 
shaft. Its wings and tail have some black and 
white bars, which are conspicuous when the 
bird flies. The bill, eyes, and feet are yellow. 
Its wild-sounding cry, which is often heard 
at night, is like that of the curlew. 
It frequents dry, open, stony country. 
199 
