114 



STRUTHIONIDjE. 



THE family of the Struthionidce, or Ostriches, is, in 

 all countries, extremely limited in numbers, and 

 contains birds of a very large size ; in Europe we 

 have only one representing genus in the Bustard, 

 and the stronghold may be said to be in Africa 

 and India, in the deserts and plains of which we 

 see the ostrich and cassowary, besides several spe- 

 cies of large bustards. In America and New Hol- 

 land they are still more limited. 



OTIS LINN. Generic characters. Bill nearly 

 straight, slightly depressed at the base ; nos- 

 trils open ; legs long, having the tarsi naked 

 above the knees ; toes, three directed forwards, 

 short, bordered with a scutellated membrane ; 

 wings long and powerful, second, third, and 

 fourth quills largest, nearly equal, first narrow 

 towards the point. 



Type, 0. tarda. Europe, Asia, Africa, New 

 Holland. 



Note. Inhabit plains and open countries, or 

 with a thick clothing of rank vegetation ; poly- 

 gamous; run swiftly. 



THE GREAT BUSTARD, OTIS TARDA. Outarde 

 barbue, Temm. Bustard^ or Great Bustard of 

 British authors. The Great or European Bustard, 



