AND NEIGHBOURHOOD. 351 



young collect into large flocks, are exceedingly diffi- 

 cult to approach on foot, and frequent bare downs, 

 stubble, and fallow lands. Many of these birds are 

 killed at night by the same means as those above 

 described concerning the Greater Bustard, and a 

 good many are also shot in the great heats of August 

 and September, when they will now and then lie 

 close amongst the palmetto scrub and other bushes 

 that clothe many of the wastes of Southern Spain. 

 I never heard of much success in " driving " these 

 birds, though we killed a few in Spain and in Tunis 

 by this means ; they generally rise to a great height 

 at once, and fly for miles if really alarmed. Most 

 of the few Little Bustards that I have shot were 

 obtained in New Castile, in some waste country to 

 the south of Aranjuez, in the spring of 18G5. At 

 that season the male bird betrays his presence not 

 only by a very singular call, Avhich I can only 

 approximate to by the abrupt pronunciation of 

 '' prnit,' but also by occasional leaps of a foot or two 

 into the air, when the black and grey of the nuptial 

 plumage of his neck and the white of the lower parts 

 render these sudden saltatory performances very 

 conspicuous. By advancing towards the spot on 

 horse- or mule-back, and occasionally on foot, we 

 could now and then get a long shot at the male, who 

 sprung into the air with a loud clatter and Avhirr, 

 whilst the female, who was always near her mate, 

 would generally rise after him within easy range. 



On wing the Little Bustard is very fast, and seen 

 from above or sideways has much the appearance of 

 a Pied Greyhen, but from below reminds me of a 

 gigantic Ptarmigan in winter dress. The action of the 

 wings produces a strong whistling sound, from which 

 the bird derives the Spanish name above mentioned. 



