OF VICTORIA. 177 



BUSTARD 



(Plain-Turkey), 



Eupodotis australis, Grey. 



U-pd-dotis ds-tra'lis. 

 Australis, southern ; eupodia, strength or speed of foot ; otis, 



bustard. 

 Otis australasianus, Gould, "Birds of Australia," fol., vol. vi., 



pi. 4. 



Geographical Distribution.— Areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9. 



Key to the Species. — Feathers of the neck and forehead elon- 

 gated ; a black patch across the chest and the sides of it ; 

 greater wing coverts ashy-black, with a white spot at the end ; 

 bill flattened and obtuse. Total length, 48 inches. 



This, the only species in Australia, is isolated in the 

 geographical distribution of Bustards, there being none in 

 the Malay Archipelago nor the adjacent Asiatic mainland. 

 Its nearest relative seems to be an Otis in India. "Tur- 

 keys " were numerous at a recent date in Victoria, but now 

 they dwindle with advancing civilization. To resist tlie 

 temptation to shoot the first Bustard that comes along 

 seems beyond our average sporting man. A law is made 

 to protect a bird that protects the interests of the growers 

 in general, yet that law is not properly respected. It is 

 our misfortune, for such a strong eater of ground vermin, as 

 grasshoppers, &c., as it has been proved to be time after 

 time should be allowed to maintain its independence and 

 wander across those paddocks it chooses without fear of 

 any molestation. During a recent visit to Western Aus- 

 tralia I met with exactly the same results as occurred here 

 twenty years ago, for, quite in a definite manner, I was 

 told that 84 Bustards had been killed in one district during 



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