LESSER FLORIKTN. 133 



and Indore, and the southernmost portion of Rajpootana, chiefly 

 during the rains, from June to September. The few that I saw in 

 Saugor and the neighbouring country, occurred during the hot 

 weather, at which time they leave the dried-up districts of Southern 

 India, and migrate north in search of suitable shelter and food. 

 As great part of the eastern portion of Central India, from the 

 Godavery to Midnapore and Chota Nagpore, consists more or less 

 of forest and jungles, the majority are drawn westwards into 

 Malwah, Kajpootana, and Guzerat. Few occur in Malabar, but in 

 Southern Canara there is at least one locality where they may be 

 found in the cold weather. 



" The lesser Florikin frequents long grass in preference to any 

 other shelter. It is, however, often to be met with in grain fields, 

 in fields of Cotton and Dholl, and in the Carnatic so much in 

 those of the grain called IVarragoo, as to be called in Tamool 

 Warragoo kolee, or Warragoo Fowl. It feeds chiefly in the 

 morning, and is then easily raised, but during the heat of the day 

 it lies very close, and is often flushed with difficulty. I have 

 known an instance of one being killed by a horse stepping on it. 

 Now and then an exceedingly wary one is met with, which runs 

 to a great distance, and takes wing well out of shot. When 

 walking or running it raises its tail, as is represented on the 

 drawing, the lateral feathers diverging downwards, whilst those of 

 the centre are the most elevated, as is seen in domestic fowls, &c, 

 forming what . Swainson calls an erect or compressed tail. The 

 chief food of the Florikin is grasshoppers. I have found also 

 blister beetles, {Mylabris) Scarabcsi, centipedes, anil even small 

 lizards. When flushed suddenly it utters a kind of sharp ' quirk,' 

 or note of alarm, and it is said also to have a feeble plaintive 

 chirp or piping note, when running or feeding. Its flesh is very 

 delicate, and of excellent flavour, and it is the most esteemed here, 

 of all the game birds. Its pursuit is consequently a favorite sport, 

 and from the open nature of the ground it frequents, it is well 

 adapted for being hawked. I have killed it occasionally with the 

 Laggur, but generally with the Shaheen, and have already given 

 an account of the manner of hunting it. Should the Shaheen, 

 miss her first stoop, I have seen the Florikin accelerate its speed so 



