HABITS OF THE BUSTARD. 177 



the fore side of the neck is ash coloured, in other re- 

 spects it resembles the male, only the colour of the back 

 and wings are considerably more dull. 



These birds were formerly found in most of the open 

 countries in considerable numbers in the eastern and 

 southern parts of England, from Dorsetshire to the 

 wolds of Yorkshire. 



They are a very shy, wild bird, and as they were 

 found in the extensive open plains like those of Wilt- 

 shire, it was difficult to get within shot of them. This 

 being the case I am at a loss to account for this noble 

 bird being almost extinct in England. I was told some 

 time ago that a society of noblemen and gentlemen had 

 been formed in Norfolk, whose object was to protect the 

 bustard, and by this means increase their number in 

 Norfolk and Cambridgeshire. 



The bustard rises from the ground with difficult}^, but 

 when once on the wing they fly heavily, and will con- 

 tinue their flight for several miles without resting. 

 They run with great speed, and there are instances of 

 their having been taken by greyhounds. They are partial 

 to their old haunts, and rarely go more than twenty or 

 thirty miles from them. The food of the bustard is corn 

 and other vegetables, and the large earthworms which 

 appear on the surface of the downs before sunrise in 

 the simimer ; these are replete with moisture, answer 

 the purpose of liquid, and thus enable them to exist 

 long without water on wide and extensive dry tracts. 



Besides this, the males have an excellent magazine 

 as a security against drought, viz. a pouch, whose 

 entrance lies directly under the tongue ; this they fill 

 with water to supply the hen when sitting, or the young 

 birds before they can fly. The bustard lays only two 

 N 



