1898] GULAll POUCH OF THE GREAT BUSTARD 319 



" If the paroxysm is a strong one, then the tail is shot upwards 

 and forwards over the back, the rectrices coming almost in contact 

 with the neck. 



" In this peculiar attitude, with bloated neck, hanging baggy 

 chest, elevated tail, and stiff stilt-like legs, the creature struts about 

 in a somewhat waddling manner, the elongated pouch swaying 

 to and fro. 1 The feathers of the throat start out on end ; those of 





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Fig. 3. — The oesophagus, trachea, and gular pouch of a specimen of Otis tarda, seen from the 

 side. The crop is here drawn as in the actual preparation, projecting backwards, and 

 not forwards as usual. (After Garrod.) 



the depending sac are also raised, but less upright. While all this 

 has taken place the bird seems to have gulped in air, or rather, 

 with partly opened gape, to have taken a long, deep and forced 

 inspiration. 



" The acme of inspiratory effort and strange attitude attained, 

 the Bustard begins to snap the mandibles together in a loud manner 

 and utter a series of cooing sounds for a short interval of time. 

 Usually and more frequently he struts towards the female Bustards 

 in a most dignified manner, or oblivious as to sex, totters up to any 

 of the birds in the same enclosure." 



Some years later (in 1873) the mouth of this identical Bustard 

 was examined by Professor Garrod, — Dr Murie's successor to the 

 Prosectorship, — with a view to finding a sublingual orifice such as 

 obtains in 0. tarda. There was no trace of any such orifice. This 



1 The spaced type is mine. 



