516 
THE CORAN. 
It is by no means uncommon in several parts of Europe, and in Russia assembles in little 
flocks. Towards the shores of the Caspian Sea it is found in greater numbers, the flocks being 
of considerable size, and all appearing (in the month of December) to consist of birds which 
have not put on, or which have already put off, their nuptial plumage. This bird feeds upon 
insects, herbs, grasses, and seeds, and its flesh is very good, having been compared to that of a 
young pheasant. The eggs are placed on the ground among a tuft of rank herbage in which 
the bird can lie concealed ; their number is about four, and their color olive-brown. 
The male, when in full plumage, is a decidedly handsome bird. The top of the head is 
fawn and black, and the sides of the face and neck are slaty -gray. Around the neck runs a 
broad gorget of black, cut by two white bands, one narrow and forming a ring round the neck, 
and the other broader and of semilunar shape, just across the top of the breast. The upper 
parts of the body are fawn, mottled profusely with black, and the wings are beautifully 
marked with black and white. The under surface of the body is white. The female is with- 
out the beautiful black and white stripes on the neck and chest, and her breast, sides, and 
flanks are barred with black. Except during the breeding season, the male has the same 
plumage. The total length of this bird is about seventeen inches. 
There are many other Bustards scattered over the world, some being well known in India 
under the title of Florikans, and others being distributed over Africa. The Houbara, or 
Ruffled Bustard, is well known on account of its curious-plumed ruffles and the sport which 
it affords to Algerian falconers. There are also two South African species, the Pauw and the 
Coran, which are often casually mentioned in the works of African travellers. Both these 
birds belong to the genus Eupodotis, and of them Captain Drayson has kindly given me the 
following account : — 
“The Pauw bird is more sought for by the pot-hunter than any other in South Africa. 
Its size is about that of a turkey, and its flesh delicious. On the breast of this bird there are 
two colored meats. First, there is a dark brown, similar to that of the grouse ; but beneath 
this there is white meat, which is similar in appearance to chicken’ s flesh. 
“ The Pauw is usually found on the plains, which it prefers to bushy country ; for as it is 
a very crafty bird, it does not like to give the sportsman an opportunity to stalk it. When 
the long grass of the plains has been burnt, and the young grass began to shoot up, then would 
numbers of Pauws assemble on the ground, and search for the worms and slugs which became 
visible. There was little chance, however, of approaching within two hundred yards of the 
bird at these times, as the whole flock would take flight immediately they believed them- 
selves in danger, and they had formed a very fair estimate of the distance at which a smooth- 
bore would be dangerous. The flight of the Pauw was something like the heron’s, except 
that when it purposed settling, it would skim for a considerable distance with its wings quite 
rigid. 
“The bird being rather heavy, with the appearance of a full habit of body, it could not 
take flight very readily. When it was possessed of a good feeding locality it seemed disin- 
clined to fly away, although its sense of danger was apparent. The sportsman might then 
probably reach to within one hundred yards of the bird, particularly if there happened to be 
only one near him, and if he did not look attentively in the direction of the Pauw. It was 
still necessary, however, to ride round the circumference of a circle of which the Pauw was 
the centre, and, by decreasing the radius, to approach nearer and nearer. If the Pauw 
crouched, then it usually depended upon the accuracy of the shooting whether or not the bird 
was killed ; for the sportsman might then gradually narrow the radius of his circle, until he 
was within seventy or eighty yards, when he might dismount, if on horseback, and run in 
towards the bird, discharging the dose of buck-shot just as the Pauw opened wide his wings. 
These birds are not confined to any particular locality, but seem to range over any country 
within a radius of a hundred miles or so. 
“The Corah is much smaller than the pauw, is longer, in proportion, in the leg, and is 
rarely seen in flocks. It is quite as much esteemed for the table as the larger bustard, and 
