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 8 THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 



Bustards {OtididcB). 



Diagnosis. — Large tall ground-birds, with long neck, 

 short bill, and three very short toes only. 



Size. — From that of a pheasant to larger than a swan. 



Form. — Bill short, somewhat fowl- or pigeon-like in 

 shape, with corner of mouth coming below eye ; 

 feet with shanks medium or long, no hind-toe, the 

 very short front toes slightly webbed at the base ; 

 wings large and broad ; tail short, often carried 

 raised and folded as in a common fowl ; head 

 small, neck long, body broad and heavy-looking, 

 with very flat back, carried horizontally. 



Plumage, Colouration, etc. — General colour light- 

 brown, more or less strongly pencilled with black, 

 and varied with white ; down at base of feathers 

 pink ; males often mostly black in breeding season. 

 Ornamental plumes about head and neck are 

 common. The fledged young resemble the adult 

 females. The female is in some species larger 

 than the male, but usually much smaller. 



Young. — Downy and active, with mottled protective 

 colouration. 



Nest. — None, the eggs being laid on the bare ground. 



Eggs. — Two to five ; spotted on a greenish or brownish 

 ground. 



Incubation. — About a month in the Great Bustard. 



Courtship. — Very elaborate, and varied according to 

 species ; the males often distend the throat to a 

 remarkable extent. 



Food. — Herbage and insects, etc., but not grain. They 

 rarely drink. 



Gait. — A walk or a very quick run. 



Flight. — Heavy and powerful, performed by con- 

 tinued flappings, slow in the large species and more 

 rapid in the smaller. Some of the latter play 

 about on the wing. 



