318 THE BUSTARD. 



within reach of the Israelites, about two cubits above 

 the ground; which they, in fact, often do when ex- 

 hausted, and are knocked down by the Arabs with sticks. 

 The Quail is the smallest of the poultry tribe ; but 

 there is one more to be mentioned, forming the connect- 

 ing link between this and the last of the gallinaceous 

 order, by far the largest of the family. We mean the 

 Bustard, of whose courage in attacking a man and horse 

 we have already spoken*. The Bustard can fly, but its 

 usual motion is on foot, running with such speed as 

 often to rival a greyhound. Formerly they were com- 

 mon on our plains, and in the open country of England ; 

 but, as enclosures have taken place, they have gradually 

 disappeared, and are now supposed to be, in this coun- 

 try, an extinct species. 



In Norfolk it is said that there are a few still remain- 

 ing : the last authentic instance is that of a gamekeeper 

 at Cresswall, near Mildenhall, Norfolk, who took a hen 

 Bustard in a rabbit-trap, in the month of May, 1829, and 

 the male was seen about the same time in the neigh- 

 bourhood. 



One great peculiarity deserves mentioning, namely, a 

 singular pouch which they have, large enough to hold 

 upwards of a quart of water. Its 

 use has not been ascertained ; by 

 many it was supposed to be a pro- 

 vision of nature for supplying them 

 with water, living as they did in 

 vast plains, where water was not 

 common ; but, as it is confined to- 

 the male, this supposition seems 

 to be erroneous, unless, when the 

 female is confined to her nest, her 

 mate provides her with water from 

 pouch of Bustard. this reservoir. 

 We come now to the last tribe in the gallinaceous 

 order, consisting of birds altogether foreign, of very pe- 



* Page 304. 



