BENGAL FLORIKIN. 129 



happen to be near, obey this saltatory summons ; and, according to 

 Hodgson, when a female approaches, he trails his wings, raises and 

 spreads his tail, humming all the while like a Turkey-Cock. I 

 have seen the cock-bird performing this nuptial dance repeatedly, 

 but have not witnessed the subsequent ceremonials, which, however, 

 are likely enough. 



At this time the hen Florikin is generally to be found in lower 

 ground and thicker grass, and is flushed with difficulty, running 

 far, and almost allowing herself to be walked over. She lays from 

 two to four eggs in some sequestered spot, well concealed in the 

 grass, of a dull olivaceous tint, more or less blotched and coloured 

 with dusky. Hodgson calls them sordid stramineous, minutely 

 dotted and more largely blotched and clouded with black ; he also 

 states that the young remain with their mother for nearly a year ; 

 but I look on this as doubtful. Two females are said not unfre- 

 quently to breed near each other. 



The flight of the Florikin is a steady, flapping flight, of no great 

 speed, and it seldom flies very far before alighting. It is occa- 

 sionally hawked with the Baz and Bhyree. It feeds chiefly on 

 insect food, grasshoppers, beetles, and caterpillars, but will also 

 eat small lizards, snakes, centipedes, &c. ; and Hodgson says, 

 sprouts and seeds of various plants, and that their diet is chiefly 

 vegetable. This, however, is opposed both to my own experience, 

 and the analogy of the other members of this family. It occasion- 

 ally, however, does eat sprouts and flowers of certain plants, but 

 whether from choice, or taken in along with some grasshopper 

 or beetle, I cannot say. 



When feeding, or on bare ground, the Florikin is shy and wary, 

 and will often rise at some distance, but sooner or later takes refuge 

 in a thicker patch, and may be approached with ease ; or it will 

 elude the gunner altogether by running to some distance, or squat- 

 ting. In the heat of the day it is generally flushed pretty close, even 

 when the sportsman is on an elephant. In general, it is a silent 

 bird, but if suddenly startled, will rise with a shrill metallic chik- 

 chik, occasionally repeated during its flight. The Florikin is highly 

 esteemed for the table, being considered by some the most 

 delicious game in the country ; the flesh is brown without, with a 



