7. Notes on the Indian Bustard ( Eupodotis edwardsi ), with especial reference to its Gular Pouch

When looking through some of the Society's 'Proceedings,' my attention was drawn to a paper by Dr. jNIurie, in the volume of 1868 (p. 471), on the occurrence of a gular pouch in certain species of Otididee, 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 callhig 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 o[)portunities 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 Ahmadiiagar 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