38 OTIS TETRAX. 



latter colour, the lateral feathers gradually becoming more 

 white, and losing one of the black bands. 



Length to end of tail 18 inches; bill along the ridge 1, 

 along the edge of lower mandible 1^ , wing from flexure 10 ; 

 tail 4^ ; bare part of tibia 1 ; tarsus 2^- ; inner toe -^-, its 

 claw -^ ; middle toe 1 T V, its claw, yV ; outer toe 4_4> its 

 claw -jSj. 



Female. — The female, which is about the same size, 

 differs in having none of the blue or black so conspicuous on 

 the neck of the male. The upper part of the head, its sides, 

 and the neck all round, are pale reddish-yellow, variegated 

 with dark brown, each feather having a broad median longi- 

 tudinal band, and several transverse bars. The throat is 

 yellowish white, the upper parts are variegated as in the 

 male, but with the markings larger, and many of the feathers 

 having a large black patch in the middle, toward the end. 

 The wings and tail as in the male, but with the white less 

 extended and barred with black. The lower parts are yel- 

 lowish white, the feathers of the breast and sides with trans- 

 verse black lines ; the lower tail-coverts with the shafts black, 

 and some bars of the same colour. 



Male in Winter. — At the end of autumn the black, 

 white, and gray feathers on the head and neck are changed 

 for others variegated with yellow and black ; so that in 

 winter the male resembles the female, but with the mark- 

 ings finer. 



Habits. — The Little Bustard is said by various authors 

 to inhabit the countries bordering the Mediterranean ; to be 

 common in the southern parts of Europe, where it resides all 

 the year ; but to become rare as we proceed northward, indi- 

 viduals being very seldom seen beyond the Baltic. In 

 Britain, it ranks merely as a straggler, although it has been 

 killed in England at all seasons. Whether migratory or not 

 with us, it has never been known to breed in the country, 

 and Mr. Yarrell remarks that males in the summer plumage, 

 as above described, have not been met with. In Cornwall, 



