218 OTIDID.E. 



on the eastern side of the ishind ; and in Ireland two were 

 seen, and one obtained in 1833, so unusually early in the 

 year as the 23rd August. Altogether, between sixty and 

 seventy have been recorded in the British Islands. 



On the Continent the Little Bustard is only a straggler 

 to the Northern, and even to many of the Central, districts, 

 being rare in localities where the Great Bustard is not 

 unfrequent. In France, however, especially in the district 

 between Chalons-sur-Marne and Troyes in the province 

 of Champagne, in the plains of the Nivernais, Berry, and 

 in La Vendee, the Little Bustard has greatly increased in 

 numbers of late years. It arrives there in small flocks 

 about the end of March or beginning of April, at which 

 season it is common on migration over a much larger extent 

 of country, and takes its departure in September. It is 

 abundant in those portions of the Spanish Peninsula where 

 the plains are somewhat broken and undulating in character. 

 In Italy it is principally a migrant, but it is resident in 

 some parts of Sicily and Sardinia, and to a certain extent in 

 Greece. In the southern part of Russia, and on the plains 

 of the Danube, it is still resident, although in decreasing 

 numbers, owing to the spread of cultivation. Eastwards it 

 is found in suitable localities, through Asia Minor and 

 Northern Persia to Afghanistan and Baluchistan, where it 

 is said to breed ; and thence, crossing the Pamir range, to 

 the North-western Provinces of India, which it visits with 

 regularity in winter. Beyond the Tian Shan range it has not 

 yet been traced. On the southern side of the Mediterranean 

 it is found in tolerable abundance in Morocco, and in Algeria 

 north of the Sahara, where it is known by the name of "Poule 

 de Carthage"; becoming somewhat rare in Lower Egypt. 



The male assumes his breeding plumage in April, at 

 which time he selects a spot, generally about three feet in 

 diameter, near, or upon which, he passes three or four hours 

 each day. He may be seen with his head and neck thrown 

 back, wings somewhat extended and drooping, his tail erect, 

 pouring forth his peculiar cry of 2>>'>it} l^i'nf, jumping up at 

 the conclusion of each strain, or call, and striking the ground 



