
ILLUSTRATIONS OF FOREIGN OOLOGY. 
and more gallinaceous-looking general aspect. They are respectively 
the types of the two divisons, Oéés (as restricted) and Tetraa, each 
consisting of but a single known species. The Houbaras approx- 
imate the same character in the shortness of their tarsi,* but have 
the weaker and more ostrich-like bill of the rest of the group. 
Two nearly affined but well distinguished species, respectively in- 
habit Spain and Northern Africa and North-western India, Aff- 
ghanistan, and probably Persia; and a third would seem to exist in 
O. ruficrista of Southern Africa: of these the first two are remark- 
able for the adornment of both sexes, with a showy crest and greatly 
developed nuchal ruff. The remainder fall under the divisions 
Lupodotis, comprehending the great Bustards of India, Australia, 
and many in Africa; and Sypheotides, comprising the “ Floriken” 
of Africa and India—two seemingly well marked and very re- 
cognisable divisions. 
India, as we have seen, possesses four species in all; and we 
will try to rescue from the oblivion of a sporting journal the 
following notices of them by a late accomplished sportsman, who, 
unlike so many of his brethren, could write sometimes about 
animals without ingeniously avoiding to impart the slightest in- 
formation concerning their habits and history—something better 
and more interesting to the generality (we hope) of readers than, 
mere records of slaughter. 
Of the Great Bustard of India (Hupodotis edwardii), this 
gentleman writes :—“ It measures four feet four inches from point 
of bill to toes, and seven feet ten inches in‘extent of wings. It 
has a receptacle or bag to the neck. It is very strong on the 
wing, and seldom allows any one to approach nearer than 100 
yards, when at one bound he raises himself in the air with ap- 
parent ease. 
“In Hurriana it is called by sportsmen the Tokdar or Tokdhur, 
and Gooracen by the natives of the country. In other parts it is 
called Gugunbher and Sohun, also Burra Chirath (i.e. Char). 
They resort together in the cold weather in flocks of from three 
to twenty-five; but in the hot winds and rains they separate, 
pair” (?), “and breed. The female lays two eggs in a nest on 
a prominent hillock, whence its native name of Gooracen.”+ For 
* So also does the Lupodotis denhami. 
+ “Gunga,” in Bengal Sporting Magazine, September, 1837, p. 144. 
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