GREAT BUSTARD. 117 



eight inches in height, and, when the lengthened 

 feathers, which most of them possess on the throat, 

 or sides of the jaw, are raised, they have a very hold 

 and commanding appearance. The head, neck, and 

 upper part of the breast, are bluish-grey, darker on 

 the crown, which is often marked with a streak 

 of brownish-black; the chin and long maxillary 

 feathers of a paler grey ; the tint of the neck and 

 breast shades nearly into pure white on the belly, 

 vent, and lower tail-covers; the lower part of 

 the back of the neck, the back, rump, shoulders, 

 and scapulars, are reddish-orange ; the feathers 

 crossed with entire and interrupted bars of black ; 

 the greater covers greyish- white ; secondaries deep 

 brownish-black ; quills very powerful, the first nar- 

 row and acuminated, the others with the outer web 

 suddenly broadening at about a third from the base, 

 these wood-brown, becoming brownish-black at the 

 tips; the central feathers of the tail are reddish- 

 orange with white tips, and. a black bar crossing at 

 about an inch from the extremity, with another 

 narrower towards the base. The more exterior 

 feathers are greyish-white nearly pure at. the base, 

 and slightly tinted with the reddish-orange near the 

 black bar. 



