116 GREAT BUSTARD. 



relates, that he saw two birds in the parish of 

 Carmyllie, Forfarshire, " which I have no doubt, in 

 my own mind, were bustards."* They were, how- 

 ever, seen early in the morning, at the distance of a 

 quarter of a mile, and objects seen "against the 

 sky," at an early hour, oftentimes " seem forms of 

 giants' height." In Ireland, Mr. Thompson states 

 it as " extinct long since,'* but it is enumerated in 

 1749, by Smith, as one of the birds of Cork. On 

 various parts of the continent they appear still to be 

 far from unfrequent. During winter and spring, we 

 have often seen specimens for sale in the poulterers' 

 shops in the Palais Royal, for which from fifty to one 

 hundred franks were asked. Spain, Italy, and the 

 plains of Greece are its southern range ; Sweden, f 

 Russia, Tartary, and Lake Baikal J is its northern 

 extent. 



The Bustard is recorded to have been run with 

 greyhounds, and to be an object of chase ; and in- 

 stances where specimens have been taken in this 

 way are mentioned, one or two of not very ancient 

 date. The bird is heavy, and does not readily take 

 wing, but is described, at the same time, to be of 

 very powerful flight ; and it has always appeared to 

 us, that those taken in this way must have been 

 under particular circumstances, either of moult or 

 fatigue. The rifle is also sometimes used ; but, so 

 far as we can learn, the ordinary fowling piece is by 

 far the most fatal weapon employed against them. 



The male Bustard will stand two feet six or 

 * I. p. 53. f Nilson. Pennant 



