104 Great Bustards. 



background a mounted sportsman running a 

 bustard with a brace of greyhounds, the bird 

 using both legs and wings. That they were in 

 old days valued for their power of flight is proved 

 by the following extract from the "Booke of 

 Falconrie or Hawkinge," published in 1611 : 

 " There is yet another kind of flight to the fielde 

 called the great flight, as to the cranes, wild 

 geese, bustard, bird of paradise, bittors, shovelars, 

 hearons, and many other such like, and these 

 you may flee from the fist, which is properly 

 termed the source. Nevertheless, in this kind of 

 hawking, which is called the great flight, the 

 falcons or other hawkes cannot well accomplish 

 their flight at the cranes, bustard, or such like, 

 unlesse they have the help of some spaniell, 

 or such dogge, wel inured and taught for 

 that purpose with your hawke. Forasmuch as 

 great flights require pleasant ayde and assist- 

 ance, yea and that with great diligence." 



Space will only allow us to mention one other 

 point in the economy of the bustard about which 

 there has been a great deal of controversy, namely, 

 the gular pouch found in the male. Most extra- 

 ordinary stories have been told of the use of this 

 pouch j for example, Bewick wrote, the male 



is furnished with a sac or pouch, situated in the fore part 

 of the neck, and capable of containing about two quarts ; 

 the entrance to it is immediately under the tongue. This 

 singular reservoir was first discovered by Dr. Douglas, who 

 supposes that the bird fills it with water as a supply in the 

 midst of those dreary plains where it is accustomed to 



