886 On the Charj, or Otis Bengahnsis. [Sept. 



such, are usually found to consist of 4 to 6 birds. The Charj breeds 

 but once a year in June, July. That is, the eggs are then laid, and 

 the young hatched in July, August. The moults are two annually, 

 one vernal from March till May, and the other autumnal, which is less 

 complete and more speedily got over between August and October. The 

 young males up to the beginning of March entirely resemble the 

 females ; but the moult then commencing gradually assimilates them 

 to the adults, which never lose, as the lesser species or Likh* is alleged 

 to do after the courting season, the striking black and white garb that 

 in both species is proper to the male sex, and permanently so to the 

 larger species from and after its 1st year of age. The young males of 

 a year have the hackles and crest less developed than those graceful 

 ornaments afterwards become, though otherwise after their moult there 

 is little difference to be seen in them from the aspect of maturity. 

 There is therefore properly speaking no nuptial dress in this species, 

 though the hackles and crest in their most entire fulness of dimensions 

 may be in part regarded as such. The Charj is a shy and wary bird, 

 entirely avoiding fully peopled and fully cultivated districts, but not 

 averse from the neighbourhood of a few scattered squatters whose 

 patches of cultivation, particularly of the mustard plants (Rai, Tori, 

 and Sarsun) are acceptable to the Charj as multiplying his chances of 

 appropriate food. This exquisitely flavoured bird is a rather promis- 

 cuous feeder, small lizards, young snakes, insects of most sorts, but 

 above all, locusts, and after them, grasshoppers and beetles, the sprouts 

 and seeds and succulent runners of various grasses, berries, stony 

 fruits, aromatic lactiferous leaves, and stems of various small plants, 

 with mustard tops and other dainties, all contributing to its nourish- 

 ment. The largest portion of its usual food is vegetals : but, when 

 insects abound and especially locusts, they are almost exclusively eaten. 

 Cerealia are eschewed : but plenty of hard seeded grasses and such 

 like are taken, and a goodly portion of gravel to digest them. The 

 Charj is seldom found in thick cover. When he is, he lies close, so 

 that you may flush him at your foot ; but in his ordinary haunts 



* Otis Auritus : fsem. fulvus : long- confounded with the Charj and cited erroneously 

 by that name even by Mr. Jerdon. Not half the size of the Charj, common in the 

 western, rare in the eastern, Tarai, and visits the valley of Nepal in May, June, when the 

 moult is just on. 



