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Sub-Order OTIDES. 
Family OTIDIDA. 
GREAT BUSTARD. Otis tarda (Linneus). 
Coloured Figures.—Gould, ‘ Birds of Great Britain,’ vol. iv, pl. 
17; Dresser, ‘ Birds of Europe,’ vol. vii, pl. 508 ; Lilford, 
‘Coloured Figures,’ vol. v, pl. 1. 
This magnificent bird, indigenous and plentiful in parts 
of England until a comparatively recent date, is at the pre- 
sent day only an occasional wanderer, chiefly in winter. 
Its visits are irregular, and the numbers which appear 
fluctuate considerably. Thus in 1890-91 quite a visitation 
of Bustards took place, and specimens were obtained 
from Norfolk, Sussex, Essex, Wiltshire, Hampshire, and 
Carmarthenshire, (‘ Field,’ February 28th, 1891). Other 
examples have been recorded.of recent years as follows: 
One from Costessy, Norfolk, February 1st, 1894; one from 
Market Lavington (Wiltshire Downs), October, 1897 (Hart- 
ing); two from Jersey in December, 1899 (H. MacKay, 
‘Zoologist,’ 1904, p. 378); two from North-east Lincoln- 
shire in 1902, viz., one from Weelsby, December 8th, and 
another from Tetney cow-marsh, December 29th (G. H. 
Caton Haigh, ‘ Zoologist,’ 1903, p. 368). 
In Scotland, this species has now become very rare ; 
one was procured from the Orkneys on March 29th, 1876, 
before which time the bird was unknown in those Islands 
(‘ Field,’ April 8th and 15th, 1876). 
It is difficult to say whether the Great Bustard is yet 
to be included in the Irish List. Messrs. Ussher and 
Warren have not included it in their recent work on ‘ The 
Birds of Ireland’ (though mentioned by Smith among 
the birds of Cork); however, in December, 1902, a Great 
Bustard was shot, and another was seen in the same place 
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