THE BIRDS OF MESOPOTAMIA. 
951 
Ludlow at Ahwaz the largest measured 49 X 31, the smallest 39 X 28 "5 and the 
average 44*36 X 30mm., these eggs varied very much in colour, they were 
mostly of a pale creamy-buff ground colour with dark brown or red-brown 
primary and violet grey secondary markings ; two eggs were nearly white, one 
with a few secondary markings, the other with a few faint markings of both 
degrees. 
Pitman came to the conclusion that the eggs, once incubation had started, 
were never left unless the birds were compelled to, or the heat would kill the 
embryo ; he found many stale deserted eggs which were so hot as to be hardly 
handled ; Logan Home however says they sit verj- little ! 
Pitman several times saw the male sitting on the nest, but probably incubation 
is shared by both sexes, though the male was noted in each case on the eggs in 
eight nests found by Livesay. On being put off a nest with eggs, the incubating 
bird sneaks away, the head being kept low, and does not shew up till a long way 
from the nest, or it may feign a broken vdng when 30 yards from the nest, this 
performance in nearly every case being done by the male. When the 5 ’oung are 
hatched more violent are the tviles utilized to deceive, which Pitman describes 
as follows : — “ On the evening of June 15th I witnessed an interesting spectacle 
at a nest I had been watching and the eggs of which had hatched that morning. 
I saw the male sitting not far from the nest, but he at once went off playing the 
“ broken -wing ” game ; as I got up to the nest the hen flew off under the pony’s 
nose, having sat very tight and went away vuth a tremendous performance. 
First of all she went staggering away, then rolled over and over as if badly wound- 
ed and with both wings smashed. This not having drawn me awa}^ she went 
off again with tail elevated, wings drooping, and trailing on the ground head 
down and neck outstretched, every feather especially on the under parts fluffed 
out ; after a little of this display she got up and flew awa}'.” 
Many nests were found in June and young in July and early August, but it is 
not certain that more than one brood reared ; many nests are destroyed by 
grass fires (burnt patches were found dotted with hundreds of semi-roasted eggs). 
Jackals, foxes, snakes, and bkds of prey, so that late nests may well occm- due to 
these causes. In August family parties or small flocks of seven to ten indivi- 
duals are the usual thing, but later on the flocks mass into enormous packs. 
At drinking time the flocks pack together on bare land before coming down to 
the water ; as all sportsmen know these birds have their favourite places for 
drinking, and where Avater is limited enormous numbers may here congregate ; 
in July, Pitman noted the first flocks arrive about 5 a.m., followed by other flocks, 
which all packed on the bare ground near by ; the whole lot rose with a deafening 
roar at 7 a.m. to come down to the water ; so numerous were they that shoot- 
ing was sheer murder and some could be knocked down with a stick as they flew 
in. while the stream bank of both sides was packed five or six deep with birds. 
They usually wade in and get wet or even settle in shallow w-ater ; some drink 
hen fashion and others like horses do ; they go off directly after drinking either 
separately or reforming packs. In June they Avater from 6 to 8 a.m., and again 
at 5 to 6-30 p.m., but some may be seen going to drink all day long ; in the cold 
weather they drink from 8 a.m. till noon. In the heat of the day the flocks 
pack together to rest, and again for the night after feeding. 
Their food consists of tiny seeds of a small grass like shrub, grains of cereals, 
pieces of green leaves, etc., while from one bird, of many feeding on newly sown 
wheat and barley, tw’o ounces of cereals were taken and at this time of year the 
damage done must be considerable. 
Pitman noted that during a sand storm these birds get quite lost and may then 
come into tents or can be even knocked dowm with sticks in the open. They 
dislike rain and the accompanying wetting of their plumage, as they then fly 
very badly and moreover are apt to get their feet clogged and balled with 
the clayey soil. Directly an area becomes saturated Avith moisture all the 
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