83. THE GREAT BUSTARD. 



Otis tarda, Linn^us. 



Length of the tarsus less than one-third 



the length of the wing. 

 Exposed part of the first ten quills of 



the wing wholly blackish. 

 Outer tail-feathers white with a dark 



bar. 

 Crown of head grey. 



MALE :— With whiskers. 

 FEMALE :— Without whiskers. 



Vernacular Names :— None known. 



The Great Bustard has only once been 

 observed in India. It was in December 

 1870 that one of Mr. Hume's collectors 

 shot a female bird out of a flock that was 

 seen near Mardan, not far north of 

 Peshawur. This specimen is now in the 

 British Museum. 



This fine bird occurs throughout Central 

 and South-western Asia, and a great 

 portion of Europe and North Africa. 



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