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THE LITTLE BUSTARD. 



OTIS TETRAX. 



Crown and back of tlie head yellowish brown, with brown spots ; sides of 

 the head and throat deep ash-grey, surrounded by a white collar ; lower i^art 

 of the neck black ; breast with a broad white collar succeeded by a narrow 

 black one ; rest of the lower parts white ; upper plumage yellowish, streaked 

 and spotted with black. Female— throRt white ; sides of the head, neck, and 

 breast yellow, streaked and (below) barred with dusky. Length seventeen 

 and a half inches. Eggs uniform olive-brown. 



A NATIVE of the wide plains bordering both shores of the 

 Mediterranean Sea, and of many similar places in Asia. 

 It was formerly abundant in France, even more so than 

 the Quail is at present. In the days of falconry it was in 

 great request under the name of Canepetiere (from cane, a 

 duck, and pierre, a stone), which seems to have been 

 given to it from the fact of its frequenting rocky rather 

 than watery places, and flying hke a Duck. It resembles 

 the Great Bustard in figure and habits ; but far from 

 rivalling the Turkey in size, it is less than a Pheasant. 



It is said that it is obliged to run before it can take 

 wing ; and that, though shy of men on foot, it allows 

 itself to be approached by vehicles or men on horseback. 

 It has now become so rare in France, that in many districts 

 where it was once abundant its very name is unknown. It 

 may, however, still be occasionally seen nailed to a wall, 

 among birds of prey. 



In Algeria it is much prized by sportsmen, who call it 

 Carthaginian Hen, or African Pheasant ; and its flesh is 

 said to be more delicate than that of the Woodcock. 



A few specimens only have been obtained in England, 

 and those principally in the south. It is, therefore, to be 

 considered a rare straggler. 



Outarde, the French name of the Bustard, is supposed 

 to be a corruption of the Latin avis tarda of Pliny ; but if 



