OF THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 103 



Family OTIDID^E. Genus OTIS. 



LITTLE BUSTARD. 



OTIS TETEAX Linrueus. 



Otis tetrax, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 264 (1766) ; Macgill. Brit. B. iv. p. 35 (1852) ; Dresser, 

 B. Eur. vii. p. 382, pi. 509 (1872) ; Yarrell, Brit. B. ed. 4, iii. p. 216 (1883) ; Seebohm, 

 Hist. Brit. B. iii. p. 587 (1884) ; Lilford, Col. Pig. Brit. B. pt. xxiv. (1893) ; Dixon, 

 Nests and Eggs Non-indig. Brit. B. p. 218 (1894) ; Seebohm, Col. Fig. Eggs Brit. 

 B. p. 89, pi. 23 (1896). 



Tetrax tetrax (Linn.), Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxiii. p. 289 (1894) ; Sharpe, Handb. 

 B. Gt. Brit. iii. p. 120 (1896). 



Geographical distribution British: The Little Bustard is an acci- 

 dental visitor to the British Islands chiefly in autumn and winter, rarely in 

 breeding plumage, and at no period known to have bred within them. It has 

 most frequently been captured in the eastern and southern counties, especially 

 in Yorkshire, Norfolk, and Cornwall. Four examples have been obtained on the 

 east coast of Scotland, and three in Ireland. This species was exceptionally 

 numerous in our Islands during the winter of 1874-75. Foreign : West Palae- 

 arctic region. To Germany, Denmark, and South Scandinavia, and the country 

 north of the valley of the Danube, the Little Bustard is an accidental straggler 

 only. It breeds in suitable districts in Spain, Portugal, and France, and is 

 common on the steppes of the Danube, Turkey, and Southern Eussia. It passes 

 through Italy and Greece on migration, but is resident in Sardinia and Sicily. 

 It breeds in North-west Africa, and winters in the Sahara. It also breeds in 

 Eussia, and West Siberia as far north as lat. 55, and eastwards as far as Lake 

 Saisan. It is a winter visitor to Egypt, occurs in Palestine and Asia Minor, 

 and is a summer resident in North Persia and Eussian Turkestan, wintering in 

 the valley of the Indus. 



Allied forms. None of sufficient propinquity to merit allusion. 



Habits. Many Little Bustards winter in the Mediterranean district, but 

 the greater number retire to Africa for the cold season. Vast flocks of these birds 

 return north to their breeding grounds in Europe during April, the southern 

 flight being made in October. In autumn the flocks are much larger than in 

 spring, and in South-eastern Europe they are said to cross the steppes lying 

 south of the Caucasus literally in millions. In its choice of a haunt the Little 

 Bustard resembles its allies, being only found on wide treeless plains and steppes. 

 It is perhaps more easy to approach than the Great Bustard, often remaining 



