GKALL.L. 235 



the ground ill search of worms, [to obtain which they have the habit of patting with the feet, 

 which causes the worms to rise] : those species in which it is more feeble frequent meadows 

 and newly-ploughed land, where this food can be procured with greater ease : those which 

 have stronger bills, subsist additionally on grain, herbage, &c. 



The Bustards (Otis, Lin.) — 



With the heavy port of the Poultry, combine rather a long neck and legs, together with a moderately 

 stout bill, the superior mandible of which is slightly arcuated and vaulted ; and they also further 

 approximate the Gallinacece by the very small membrane at the base of their toes: but the nudity of 

 the lower- portion of the tibia, their whole anatomy, and even the flavour of their flesh, concur to 

 place them in the. present order, in common with various members of which they also want the 

 back-toe, and the smaller species are nearly allied to the Plovers. They have reticulated tarsi, and 

 short wings ; fly little, hardly ever using their wings, except to assist them in running, the same as 

 the Ostriches ; and feed equally on grain, herbage, and worms and insects. [The stomach is very capa- 

 cious, and extremely attenuated, contrasting remarkably with the muscular gizzard of the true Plovers ; 

 their plumage is moulted twice in the year, the males of most of them developing accessory ornamental 

 feathers, or black under-parts, in the spring ; and their flight, when they do fairly rise, is easy and 

 winnowing, and capable of considerable protraction. The species are numerous, and confined to the 

 Eastern Continent. 



The two first, one indigenous, the other an occasional visitant, in the British Isles, possess a comparatively 

 stout beak, which is compressed laterally.] 



The Great Bustard (O. tarda, Lin.).— Bright buff-coloured plumage on the upper-parts, crossed with numerous 

 black lines ; elsewhere greyiBb-wnite. The male, which is the largest of European birds, has [in its summer dress] 



length*' 1 car-coverts, which form a sort of large moustache on each side. This species, which is one of tic 



finest kinds of game, frequents extensive plains, and nestles on the ground amongst the corn. [It is polygamous, 

 and the female is much smaller than the male; the latter being further distinguished by a very capacious m 

 branous sac beneath the tongue. The voice of the male is a remarkable explosive sound. This bird lays only t«*> 

 -, of a dark greenish colour, with some black patches : the young, when first hatched, are very like young 

 Plovers. It lias been nearly extirpated in Great Britain.] 



The Little Bustard (O. tetrax, Lin.).— Less than half the size of the last species, and much less widely diffused j 

 of a brown colour, speckled with black above, whitish underneath. The male with a black neck, [in summer plu- 

 mage only,] and two white collars. [In this species, the sexes scarcely differ in size, from which we should infer 

 that it is monogamous. It lays four or five spotless green eggs in corn-fields, and is also highly esteemed for 

 the table.] 



The greater number of exotic species have the bill more slender, [and depressed instead of compressed]. Among 

 (hem we may remark 



The Buffed Bustard (O. houbara, Desm.), of Africa and Arabia, [and rarely Spain, the male of] which is adorned 

 w ith lengthened feathers on the sides of the neck. [Another species with this character exists in central A 



The Plovers (Cliaradriu.t, Lin.) — 



Likewise want the hind-toe, and have a middle-sized bill, compressed, but swoln towards the tip. They 

 may be divided into two subgenera. 



The Thick-knees ((Edicnemus, Tern.), — 



Wherein the tip of the bill is inflated above as well as beneath, and the groove of the nostrils extends 

 only half the length of the beak. They arc the largest of the Rover group, and live by p r ef er e nce 

 ii|i*in arid and Btonj districts, feeding on slugs, insects, &c They are allied to the smaller species of 

 Bustards r L in their exterior conformation, but not in the Structure of the Stomach, which is a muscular 

 gizzard : their plumage also is moulted once only in the year, and they undergo no seasonal change of 

 colom*]. Their legs arc reticulated, and they have a short membrane at the base of their three n» •<•. 



The European Thick-knee [Ck. adienemut, Lin. ; (Ed. crepitant, Tan.), Size of [larger than] s w Icock, 



and ftalvoua-grey, with ■ brown streak along the middle of each feather ; the belly white, and i brown space nnder 

 the eye. [This is the Stone Curlew, Whittling or Norfolk Plover, aail la various!) deaig Bated, which Is i ommon in 

 ral districts of South Britain, and well known wherever it ■■■ om >t^ sonorous whistling. It lava but 



two egga, which however do not resemble those **t the Bustards, and taper al one end j the smaller Bastards (as 

 we have seen) produi iter number. The Thick-knees are for them* itpari migratory, but some regularly 



stay the winter. We have reason to believe that it rears more than one brood In s season. Th* rem! 



exotii liderabiy larger and mucl 



