1837.] On the Florikens of the Deccan. 789 



IX. — Note on the black and brown Floriken of Guzerat. By Lieutenant 

 George Fulljames. 



Having been induced from reading Colonel Sykes' catalogue of 

 birds in the Deccan to make some observations of the Otis fulva and 

 Otis aurita, I have the pleasure to send you the following remarks 

 for insertion in your journal. 



The Otis fulva or brown Floriken is a bird common to our side of 

 India, and is found at all seasons of the year in the Deccan particu- 

 larly ; in Guzerat however they are more frequently found on the near 

 approach of the monsoon, and in the year 1834 were so plentiful 

 that I bagged no less than 79. Almost the whole of these I 

 examined; and from the facts ascertained, I am of opinion that the 

 Otis aurita or black Floriken is the cock bird of the Otis fulva; that 

 he is only to be found in his black plumage during the monsoon. 

 That he commences changing his feathers early in April and continues 

 molting till June, when he has generally become the black Floriken. 

 That at this season he never weighs more than 1 lb. 4 oz. avoirdupois, 

 and seldom so much ; while the brown or hen bird weighs at 

 least 1 lb. 8 oz. 



That you rarely see the two together at this season, and that I have 

 shot them in all stages of their moulting until I got the perfect black 

 Floriken, and on examination have invariably found the testes most 

 fully devoloped ; while in the brown or hen birds the ova have been 

 equally distinct. 



They are so plentiful sometimes in Guzerat that they may be 

 bought from the Wagrees alive for a few pice. 



I am of opinion also that the Floriken migrates, but from what part 

 of India I know not. I once heard of a flight being seen coming from 

 the north and going in an easterly direction, but cannot vouch for 

 the fact. 



One observation has often occurred to me, which is, I have never 

 shot the bird losing his black feathers and becoming brown; and the 

 mly way 1 can account for it, is that either the bird leaves the coun- 

 ry, or it being at that season of the year when a sportsman seldom 

 'entures out, the whole country being oovered with vegetation, and the 

 floriken being remarkably quick in hearing they escape unroused. 



This one fact I will venture to assert, that no person has ever yet 

 hot a black Floriken with the ova developed ; it therefore only remains 

 o be proved whether the cock bird undergoes these changes yearly or 

 iot, and which will be difficult to ascertain, for in confinement I find 

 hey do not thrive, having frequently attempted in vain to keep them. 



