THE BUSTARD. 



109 



characterized by the tail feathers being brown and white, tipped with 

 black, and it is seldom seen in flocks consisting of more than five or six 

 individuals. 



THE BUSTARD (Otis dybowskii). 



Ttis is referrable to the species Otis dybowskii. It is very, much 

 like the great bustard (0. tarda). One I saw weighed 28 Ibs. They 

 very frequently weigh from 15 Ibs. to 20 Ibs. The Chinese call this 

 bird "Yang-pu" (Sheep bustard) as opposed to the smaller "Chi-pu" 

 (Hen bustard). The latter is not really distinct, being nothing more 

 than the females or young males of the former. 



The Chinese hunt the bustard by digging pits in the ground, and 

 setting out decoys. They will sit patiently in these pits day after day, 

 and feel repaid for their labour if they secure two or three birds a 

 week. The decoys are made from the skins of bustards, which are 

 stuffed with straw and stuck upon sticks. The life-like nature of these 

 dummies once gave rise to an amusing incident, which befell a party 

 of us, while out shooting on the Tai-yuan Fu plain. 



We had been after geese all the morning, and had not done badly, 

 so that, when three bustards were sighted, we hailed the idea of a 

 bustard each as a welcome change. Accordingly we dismounted from 

 our ponies, and began a long and careful stalk. One of our party was 



