AND NEIGHBOURHOOD. 349 



suspicions that these birds utter a ventriloqual sound 

 in the breeding-season. 



Since the above article "was first published, I have 

 frequently heard my young Bustards at Lilford utter 

 a curious plaintive moan, especially when separated 

 by chance or design from their companions. 



132. LITTLE BUSTARD. 



Otis i el rax. 



Captain J. Borlase Tibbits, of Barton Seagrave, 

 was good enough to inform me by letter that a young 

 female of this species was shot by his brother, the late 

 Rev. G. E. Maunsell, in a turnip-field on the lordship 

 of Rothwell, on November 20, 1858, that the bird 

 was stuffed and mounted by Ward, and at the time 

 of Captain Tibbits writing to me w-as at Thorpe 

 Malsor. The Little Bustard is an irregular and 

 accidental visitor to our Islands, generally occurring 

 in the late autumn, winter, or early spring, and I am 

 not aware of any record of its nest ever having been 

 found in this country. In most of its habits, haunts, 

 and food, as well as in shape and general coloration, 

 this bird resembles the Great Bustard ; but it is a 

 more southern species, breeding locally in Portugal, 

 Spain, Sardinia, France, Italy, Sicily, Turkey in 

 Europe, S. Russia, and Greece. I believe that it is 

 only an accidental visitor to Germany proper, but 

 breeds in some of the eastern provinces of the 

 Austrian Empire, Hungary, and on both sides of the 

 Lower Danube. It is also reported as abundant in 

 parts of Asia Minor and Western Asia ; it is also 

 found to our knowledge in Morocco, Algeria, and 

 Tunis, In its most northerly breeding-haunts it is a 



