AND NEIGHBOITRIIOOD. 337 



above Seville, in the neiglibourbood of Algaba and 

 Alcala del Rio, a country of rolling down-land, for 

 the most part under cultivation. 



My experience differs from that of Mr. C. A. 

 Nicholson, as quoted by Yarrell, as he states that the 

 female birds do not arrive in the district in question 

 till the beginning of April, whilst we found flocks of 

 old and young of both sexes all together in February 

 and March ; we noticed, however, that the old males, 

 easily distinguished by their bulk and comparatively 

 sloAV flight, would occasionally separate themselves 

 from the main body, on being flushed for the second 

 or third time, and take off in a different direction. 

 The Great Bustard is a promiscuous feeder, and at 

 different seasons varies his dietary : frogs, mice, 

 snails, earthworms, lizards, beetles, locusts, grass- 

 hoppers, and slugs are his animal food, and green 

 corn, especially barley, clover, the leaves of mallow, 

 chick-peas, a little low-growing plant with a dark 

 crimson flower, and vetches, are, so far as I knoAv, 

 the most favoured vegetables in the bill of fare of 

 these birds. 



Opinion seems to be divided as to whether the 

 Bustard is polygamous or not. I entertain no doubt 

 whatever on the subject, and am convinced on the 

 correctness of the affirmative view on this point. In 

 favour of this conviction I may state that in Spain 

 the female birds far outnumber the males, that the 

 latter not only go through what may be termed " a 

 gallantry show " on fine spring days, by throwing 

 back their heads, blowing out their neck-pouches, 

 trailing their wings, and spreading their tails fanwise, 

 but also fight most furiously among themselves, 

 and, lastly, that I have on more than one occasion 



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