122 ALLEN S NATURALISTS LIBRARY. 



level, or vcga, of the Barbate near Casas Viejas at times, in 

 eaily autumn, they positively swarmed in flocks sometimes of 

 as many, or more, than a hundied together, frequenting this 

 flat ground till it was swamped by the rains. They then re- 

 sorted to higher and more undulating ground, and these large 

 flocks dispersed and broke up into lots of from five to six or 

 twenty in number. . . . Unlike the Great Bustard, they 

 usually rose high up at once, and their power and rapidity of 

 flight is astonishing for their size and weight. They were often 

 seen flying somewhat like Golden Plover, twirling and twist- 

 ing about at a great elevation ; and sometimes I watched them 

 rise and go to such a height that it would have been difficult 

 to tell what birds they were unless I had seen them fly up from 

 the ground, . . . The Moorish names (Saf-saf or Sirt-sirt) 

 are significant of the rattling noise which the Little Bustard 

 makes in rising, and, when the flock is large, this can be 

 heard a long way off. There is none of this sound of the 

 wings in the rising of the slow-flying Great Bustard. . . . The 

 male Little Bustard in the breeding-season has a most peculiar 

 call, which can be easily imitated by pouting out the lips tight 

 together and then blowing through them. The birds, when 

 thus calling, seem to be close to one, but are often in reality 

 half a mile off. They must possess powers of ventriloquism, 

 as I have often imagined that they were quite near to me, but 

 upon hunting the spot with a dog I found no signs of them 

 anywhere near. Indeed, at that season, it is sometimes as 

 difficult to make them rise as a Land-Rail." Mr. Howard Saun- 

 ders says that the male assumes his breeding-plumage in April, 

 at which time he selects a spot about three feet in diameter, 

 on which he passes several hours each day, with head and neck 

 thrown back, wings somewhat extended, and tail erect, pouring 

 forth his peculiar cry of pmt, prut, jumping up at the con- 

 clusion of each call, and striking the ground in a peculiar 

 manner on his descent. At this season, Mr. Abel Chapman 

 found that the throat was much dilated (ALan. p. 512). The 

 food of the species is varied, and while chiefly consisting of 

 grass and grain, also comprises frogs, small rodents, and 

 insects. 



Nest — On the ground, a small depression being lined with 

 dry grass. 



