588 BRITISH BIRDS. 
tainous countries of Italy and Greece it is principally known as passing 
through on migration ; but it is a resident in Sardinia and Sicily, and is 
extremely common on the steppes both north and south of the Danube. 
To Egypt it is principally known as a winter visitor, but in Palestine and 
Asia Minor the greater number pass southwards in autumn. It breeds in 
North Persia and Russian Turkestan, and winters in the valley of the 
Indus. 
Although the Little Bustard winters in considerable numbers in the 
basin of the Mediterranean, migratory flocks are constantly seen crossing 
the Straits of Gibraltar in the west, and the Ionian Islands in the east, 
during the month of April, returning again in October. In autumn the 
flocks are much greater than they are in spring, and these birds are described 
as sometimes crossing the steppes south of the Caucasus in millions. The 
Little Bustard is quite as much a steppe-bird as the Great Bustard, and 
is only found in extensive plains. It runs on the ground like a Partridge, 
and is never known to perch in trees. It is solitary during the breeding- 
season; but Hudleston, describing its habits in the Dobrudscha imme- 
diately after its arrival, says that “‘the male birds are particularly 
demonstrative at this time of the year, and being often occupied in para- 
ding their attractions in groups of ten or a dozen to the females, which are 
crouching somewhere in the grass, they are not so wide awake as at other 
seasons, and thus afford a better chance to the gun.” It has been said to 
be polygamous, but there does not appear to be any evidence in support of 
this conclusion. When I visited the steppes of the Danube in May last 
year, although Great Bustards were constantly to be seen in flocks, I never 
saw two Little Bustards together, probably because the smaller species- 
breeds in its first spring. 
In several respects it presents in its habits points of contrast to its 
larger ally. It is a more southern bird, though in the Danubian steppes 
it is much the commoner of the two. It is a partial migrant, arriving at 
its breeding-grounds in flocks early in April, which are dispersed in May. 
It is so much less than the Great Bustard, that by the middle of May the 
grass and the flowers hide it completely from view. The females sit very 
close and are difficult to find, but the males betray themselves by their 
curious note. As you drive slowly across the steppes your attention is 
arrested by a distant ery, resembling the sound of the syllable spurrtz. By 
following with the waggon in the direction whence it proceeds for a hundred 
yards or more, you may generally put up the bird, frequently within shot ; 
but if followed on foot there is little or no chance of securing it. The 
flight is quite different to that of the Great Bustard, more resembling that 
of a Partridge than that of a Heron. The wings are moved with great 
rapidity, and the flight is very straight, though not very slow. The beats 
of the wing are so rapid that they make quite a loud whirring sound, and 
