GREAT BUSTARD. 15 
conclude this notice. It is to be remarked that cock birds 
are said to have been comparatively scarce in this drove, 
three being the most that are spoken to by any eye- 
witness, and, as has just been stated, when the numbers 
of the drove were much diminished, cocks were entirely 
wanting. These observations probably refer to the 
old cocks, which so greatly surpass the hens in 
size, for it must be remembered that, as is known 
through foreign observers, the male bustard is several 
years in attaining its full growth, and until then it 
cannot be readily distinguished from the female at a 
distance.* 
Whether the bustard was (and, in countries such as 
Spain and Central Germany where it still exists, is) 
polygamous must be regarded as an open question. The 
evidence of Norfolk and Suffolk observers certainly tends 
to the belief that it was so; but, on the other hand, the 
late Professor Naumann, who was a most acute ornitho- 
logist, and had abundant opportunities for investigating 
the economy of this species in Saxony, denies (Vogel 
Deutschl., vil., pp. 35-41) that such was the case, except 
to a very limited extent, which exactly agrees with 
Lord Lilford’s opinion, as previously given (note, p. 6). 
So also the evidence is somewhat defective as to whether 
the bustard was resident or migratory. According to 
Mr. Scales, and a more competent authority there 
can scarcely be, the cocks annually disappeared at 
the latter end of spring and beginning of summer. 
What became of them it is not easy to conjecture, but it 
seems certain that towards the breeding season they 
ceased to live in company with the hens, and were, 
therefore, at any rate, partial migrants. The hen birds 
* A young male of foreign origin, kept in confinement by Lord 
Lilford, did not acquire its beard until the beginning of April in 
its second year. 
