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Family, Otidae, Bustards. 



Bustards are large bulky birds, with 

 rather long neck and lank, naked legs. 

 They have only three toes, all of which 

 are directed forward. Their strong legs 

 and feet well adapt them to running, 

 though they readily take to wing when 

 pressed. They possess ample wings, 

 but are largely terrestrial in their 

 habits, frequenting dry open plains. 



The only species found in China 

 winters in the Yangtse Valley, 



EASTERN BUSTARD. 



OTIS DYBOWSKII TACZ. 



Description. — Bill grey. Legs grey. 



Iris brown. 



The general color above is " sandy 



rufous broadly banded across with 



black, lower parts below the breast 



white." Head and neck behind and 



on the sides clean ashy grey, a few 



rufous feathers barred with black at 



the side of the neck. 



/" Th«--4iistinguishing mark of the\ luc_ i-e^y^ ^ ' 



species is tfettthe greater wing coverts \ o 



are like the back;- the middle row | ^♦^c-v^'''-^ * 



being light grey or white lik&the lesser' 

 : coverts.- The tail feathers are Brcrwijj 

 \|Lnd white tipped with black. 



Distribution. — This Bustard extends 



across Siberia to China and Japan. It 



breeds in the north and is a winter 



visitant in the Yangtse Valley. 



Notes. — Mr. Sowerby says that in the 

 north " the Chinese hunt the Bustard 

 by digging pits in the ground, and 

 setting out decoys. They will sib 

 patiently in these pits, day after day, 

 and feel repaid for their labor if they 

 secure two or three birds a week. The 

 ecoys are made from the skins of the 



