THE BUSTARDS. 



AFRICAN lUsrARHS. 



Le Vaillant discovered one species* inhabiting the Caffre country and some parts of 

 the colony of the Cape of Good Hope. 



Another species, t met with by Mnjoi- Denham, near the larger towns, did not occur in 

 any great abundance. It frequented moist places, where the herbage was pure and fresh, 

 and where it was taken in snares by the natives for food.' It was almost invariably seen 

 singly. Major Denham only once having observed a pair together. It was always found 

 in company with gazelles. That gentleman praises its large and brilliant eyes. The 

 Arabs are accustomed to compare the eyes of their most beautiful women to those of the 

 Ouhara, which seems to be a general name for the bustards of Africa. 



A third species was discovered by Mr. EurchcU, in South Africa,* which stood upwards 

 of five feet in height, and may be regarded as the most gigantic development of the four 

 hitherto observed. " We shot," Mr. Burchell says, " a large bird of the bustard kind, 

 which was called Wihie Paaiiir (wild peacock). This name is here very wronglv applied, 

 as the bird to which it properly belongs differs from this in every respect. There are, 

 indeed, three, or perhaps four, birds to which, in different districts, this appellation is 

 given. The present .spscies, which is called Kori in the Sichuana language, measured, in 

 extent of wing, not less than seven feet, and in bulk and weight was almost greater than 

 some of the people could manage. The under part of the body was white, but the ujjper 

 part was covered with fine lines of black on a chestnut-coloured ground. The tail and 

 quiU -feathers partook of the general colouring of the back ; the shoulders were marked 

 with large blotches of black and white, and the top of the head was black ; the feathers 

 of the occiput were elongated into a crest ; thos9 of the neck were also elongated, loose, 

 narrow, and pointed, and were of a whitish colour, marked with numerous transverse 

 lines of black." 



'i-i 



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HEAD OF OTIS IIOVBAKA.— GMEL. 



The Otk Houlmra inhabits the north of Africa, and appears occasionally in Europe. 

 It is remarkable for its crest. 



* Otis Cxrulesccns. t Otis Denhami. J Otis Kori. 



