Class II. GREAT BUSTARD. 285 



the crown of the head is of a deep orange, traverfed 

 with blacK lines ; the reft of the head is brown. 

 The lower part of the fore-fide of the neck is afh- 

 colored : in other refpeds it refembles the male, 

 only the colors of the back and wings are far more 

 dull.. 



Thefe birds inhabit moft of the open countries Place. 

 of the fouth and eafl parts of this ifland, from Dor- 

 fetjhire, as far as the Wolds in Torkjhire *. They 

 are exceeding %, and difficult to be fhot ; run 

 very faft, and when on the wing can fly, though 

 flowly, many miles without reiiing. It is faid that 

 they take flight with difficulty, and are fometimes 

 run down with grehounds. They keep near their 

 old haunts, feldom wandering above twenty or 

 thirty miles. Their food is corn and other vege- 

 tables, and thofe large earth worms that appear in 

 great quantities on the Downs, before fun-rifing in 

 the fummer. Thefe are replete with moifture, an- 

 fwer the purpofe of liquids, and enable them to live 

 long without drinking on thofe extenfive and dry 

 traais. Befides this, nature hath given the males 

 an admirable magazine for their fecuriiy againfl: 

 drought, being a pouch f, whofe entrance lies im- 

 mediately under the tongue, and which is capaWe 



* In Sir Robert SibbaU's time they were found in the Mers, 

 but I believe that they are now extinft in Scotland. 



^ t The world is obliged to the late Dr. Doicglas for this 

 "difcovery ; and to Mr. Ed^-wards for communicating it. 



U3 of 



