THE GREAT BUSTARD. 



373 



man Willugliby, who wrote in the middle of the seven- 

 teentli century, gives a longer account. " The Bustard has 

 no hind claw, which is especially worthy of notice ; for by 

 this mark and by its size it is sufficiently distinguished 

 from all birds of the tribe. It feeds on corn and the seeds 

 of herbs, wild cabbage, leaves of the dandelion, &c. I have 

 found in its crop abundance of the seeds of cicuta, with 

 but a few grains of barley even in harvest-time. It is 



THE GREAT BUSTARD. 



found on the plains near N^ewmarket and Eoyston, and 

 elsewhere on heaths and plains. Bustards are birds of 

 slow flight, and raise themselves from the ground with 

 difficulty, on account of their size and weight ; hence, 

 without doubt, the name tarda was given to them by the 

 Latins. By the Scotch, on the authority of Hector Boe- 

 thius, they are called Gustarda^J' 



M. Perrault, who wrote in 1676, gives an account of 

 a tame Bustard which was kept for a whole summer in 



