16 
lays from three to five eggs of a pale purplish 
white, with streaks of chocolate red in waving lines, 
frequently terminating in spots of the same colour. 
BUSTARD, GREAT. 
Orvts TarpDa, Lin. 
This species of the feathered tribe, the largest of 
the British Land Birds, was formerly common in 
many parts of England and also in Scotland. It 
was constantly seen on the extensive plains of 
Wiltshire, Dorsetshire, Norfolk, and in parts of 
Yorkshire; but as agriculture advanced it gradu- 
ally became very scarce, and is now almost, if not 
quite, extinct in this country. It feeds chiefly on 
grasses and herbs of various kinds, particularly green 
corn, and also on the common earth-worm, of which 
it is very fond. ‘The male has a kind of a pouch 
in the fore part of the neck (which was first dis- 
covered by Dr. Douglas), capable of containing 
about two quarts of water, which is admitted by an 
entrance under the tongue. It is found in France, 
Italy, and various parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. 
The eges of this species, which are two in number, 
about the size of those of a goose, are of a pale olive 
brown, slightly blotched with greenish brown and 
other hues. The female builds no nest, but de- 
posits her eggs in the ground. 
