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Show 486 SIR W. ELLIOT ON THE INDIAN BUSTARD. [June 15, 7. Notes on the Indian Bustard {Eupodotis edwardsi), with especial reference to its Gular Pouch. By Sir W A L T E R E L L I O T , K.C.S.I., F.R.S., F.Z.S. [Eeceived June 7, 1880.] When looking through some of the Society's 'Proceedings,' my attention was drawn to a paper by Dr. Murie, in the volume of 1868 (p. 471), on the occurrence of a gular pouch in certain species of Otididae, and on the probable use of such an organ, which, with reference to observations made by him on an individual of Otis australis, he considers to be " a subject calling for more extended examination in other members of the family." In this view, the following notice of the habits of the Indian species (Eupodotis edwardsi) may not be without interest. This Bustard is found in considerable numbers on the open basaltic plains of the Dekhan, where I had many opportunities of observing it during a residence of several years in that part of India. So common was it that the late Colonel Robert Mansfield, commanding the Poonah Irregular Horse quartered at Seroor between Ah mad nagar and Poona, had killed several hundreds when I saw him in 1829, and he was trying to make up his bag to 1000 birds, a feat which he accomplished some three or four years afterwards, and which, when the shy and wary character of the Bustard is considered, was thought to be a remarkable incident of sportsmanship. I had often remarked the gular pouch with which the male is furnished, and communicated some notes I had made on the subject to the late Dr. Jerdon, who quoted them in his first Catalogue of the Birds of India, published in the Madras Journal of Literature and Science1. On the occasion there referred to, I was riding across an undulating plain near the village of Scindaghi, in the Sholapiir district, on the morning of the 12th Oct. 1829, when I was attracted by a distant sound as of a person moaning. Thinking it proceeded from some one in pain, I turned towards the spot from which it came, and after riding upwards of a mile, during which the noise became louder and more distinct, I saw a large cock Bustard strutting about on a rising ground with gesticulations so extraordinary that I stopped to watch him. He paced round and round, ruffling his plumage, with wings sweeping the ground, tail erect, neck distended, the feathers standing out like a ruff, whilst he uttered the cry that had drawn me to the spot, every now and again rushing forward a few paces, then wheeling round, and pirouetting back again. I dared not approach very near, fearing the suspicious disposition of the bird, who would have made off as soon as he saw me ; but I watched him, whilst, to use Mr. Bartlett's phrase, he was thus "showing off," evidently for the purpose of attracting the hens, several of whom were seen flying towards him. 1 Vol. xii. p. 8, 1839-40, and in the Collected Vol. p. 147. |