S Bustard. 



to form a common dish for the table in 

 this country, and proba])]y, from its coarse- 

 ness and ill colour, when it did, tlie motive 

 was rather shew than use. 



Bustards. The Bustard is the larirest 

 land bird of Europe, the cock generally 

 weighing from twenty-five to twenty-seTcn 

 pounds. The neck a foot long, the legs 

 a foot and a half. It flies with some little 

 difficulty. The head and neck of the 

 cock, ash coloured ; the back, barred 

 transversely with black and a bright rust 

 colour. The greater quill feathers black, 

 the belly white ; the tail, consisting of 

 twenty feathers, marked with broad black 

 bars : it has three thick toes before and 

 none behind. There are upwards of half 

 a dozen species of this bird, two ,or three 

 of which (African) are crested. The 

 LITTLE Bustard, differs only in size, not 

 being larger than a pheasant. Tiiey were 

 known to the ancients in Africa, and in 

 Greece and Syria; are supposed to hve 

 about fifteen years ; are gregarious, and 

 pair in Spring, laying only t^^o eggs, near- 



