78S Notes on the Ornithology of Candahar. [Aug. 



na," observes the writer, "has also its Floriken, in addition to the 

 Bustard [Eupodotis Edwardii, (Gray,) v. nigriceps, (Vigors),] there 

 numerous ; but it is a very different bird from the Floriken of Bengal 

 [St/pheotides bengalensis, (Gm.), v. himalayanus, (Vigors) ; — the Flo- 

 riken of Southern India being the S. auritus, (Latham), or Leek of 

 Bengal.]*** The sexes are alike, and some specimens differ a little 

 from each other in their plumage. The drawing represents a male, 

 which weighed 3^fl3., was 25|ins. in length, and 4ft. broad." This 

 account being by a well known sportsman and accurate observer, the 

 statement respecting the similarity of the sexes is entitled to all credit, 

 as likewise that regarding the sex of the specimen figured by him : 

 otherwise, so nearly does this Indian bird resemble that above described 

 from Afghanistan, except (so far as hitherto appears) chiefly in being 

 devoid of the crest, and in having the upper two-thirds of its orna- 

 mental neck plumes wholly black, that I incline to regard them as 

 identical, presuming the crest to be merely a seasonal adornment, and 

 that some variation in the colour of the nuchal tufts might occur in 

 different individuals. 



The only Indian specimen that I have seen was a beautiful female, 

 procured at Hansi in the month of December, and obligingly forwarded 

 for my inspection by Capt. Boys (of the 6th Cavalry). This measure- 

 ed, when fresh, " 25in. in length, 4ft. in extent of wings, and weighed 

 3ft). 6oz. ;" length of closed wing 14in., of tail 9in., tarse 3^-in., and bill 

 to gape 2|in. " Irides bright yellow : bill blackish-horny, with greyish 

 black nostrils, the base of the lower mandible whitish : and legs gr.een- 

 ish-yellow." This specimen agreed tolerably well with Hardwicke's 

 figure, except that the mottled black patches on the upper parts are 

 much smaller and more numerous, and scarcely appear at all upon 

 the wings, which should have been coloured paler ; the pencilling in 

 front of the neck is much more delicate ; and the tail is banded with 

 light ash-colour (appearing blue), slightly bordered with black. Com- 

 paring it with the foregoing description taken of the Afghanistan spe- 

 cimen, I noted that the minute description of the upper-parts, wings, 

 and tail, there given applies equally to the present bird ; but " though 

 the coronal feathers are all, in the mass, considerably lengthened, there 

 is no indication whatever of the greatly developed, and abruptly rising, 

 medial crest of the other, the plumes composing which are singularly 



