12 THE GREAT INDIAN BUSTARD. 



is entirely absent in the Konkan, below the Sahyadri Range, 

 and is scarcely ever seen within fifty miles to the east of the 

 Ghats. The further east one travels, the more Bustard are 

 seen, but they are very rare in both these zillas. During three 

 years spent in the eastern sub-divisions of Satara (Khatao, 

 Tasgaon, Khanapur) and the Jath State, I only saw five 

 Bustards. In Poona, in the Bhimthadi and Indapur sub- 

 divisions, there are two or three localities in which Bustard are 

 found year after year. 



" The name Maldok is applied in Poona and Satara, and 

 I believe throughout the Maratha country. In Satara, how- 

 ever, it is frequently misapplied by natives, who have never seen 

 Bustard, to the white-necked Stork, Dissnra episcopal* 



Mr. Davidson writes : — " Although, from all accounts, in 

 greatly diminished numbers, the Great Indian Bustard is still 

 found throughout the British Deccan ; I have personally noticed 

 it in the Nagar, Poona, Sholapur and Satara Collectorates. It 

 is perhaps commoner in the south of the Poona district 

 than in any of the others, but it is even here yearly becoming 

 scarcer. In the western districts of Satara, it is already ex- 

 tremely rare, and I only saw three there altogether, all at one time, 

 in the cold weather. In Poona and Sholapur, it is certainly 

 a permanent resident, that is to say, that at all seasons a few 

 may be found in parts of the Collectorate. I think, however, 

 that more breed in the district than are to be found there in 

 February or March, and that birds come in, in the beginning of 

 the rains, to breed and leave when their young are able to fly. 

 I have very seldom noticed Bustard in the black-soil villages, 

 and have found them almost entirely confined to high un- 

 culturable land covered with short grass (and in the summer 

 nearly baked into the consistency of a rock), or among the 

 high grass preserves." 



Mr. J. E. James says that this Bustard is a common and 

 permanent resident of Khandesh and Nasik, but is rarer in 

 Guzerat. 



" It is chiefly found on high lying sterile plateaux, where 

 there is not too much cultivation. It lives chiefly on insects. 

 Frequently an old cock is to be seen, and that from a very long 

 distance, stalking majestically about alone. In the rains, he 

 usually has a harem of five to six hens with him, and solitary 

 hens are not often met with. Once I counted more than 30 in 

 a flock. 



" Its name, ' Hum,' used throughout the districts above 

 referred to, is supposed to be derived from its booming cry. 

 When winged, it will defend itself vigorously, uttering the loud 

 and deep cry alluded to. 



" The best way I know of shooting them is by stalking them 

 behind a country cart, which should be driven past them. They 

 take loose B.B. shot or wire cartridges of the same, but I 



