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SIXTH FAMILY. BUSTARDS. 

 Otida, (Gr. (axis, otis, a bustard.) 



The proper position of these birds has been a disputed point 

 among Ornithologists. Temminck ranks them with the RUN- 

 NERS, (Cursores,) and includes them with the Ostrich family. 

 M. Vigors also places them among the same birds ; but in loca- 

 ting them on the Chart, we have followed Cuvier and others, who 

 have included them among the Stilt-birds. 



The Bustards are comprehended in one genus, Otis. The 

 bill in these birds, is of the length of the head, or shorter, 

 straight, conical, and slightly depressed at the base; the point of 

 the upper mandible is a little arched ; the feet are long, and 

 naked above the knee, with three toes in front, short, united at 

 their base, and bordered by membranes ; the wines are of mod- 

 erate size, the third quill longest in each wing. The chin feath- 

 ers and moustaches, (seen in the male bird ) are composed of 

 long wiry-feathers, and the barbs disunited and short ; the 

 scapulars are of a buff orange color, barred, and spotted with 

 black ; the back and tail coverts, reddish orange, barred, and 

 variegated with black ; the greater coverts, and some of the 

 secondaries, are bluish gray ; the sides of the neck white, tinged 

 with gray ; the lower part of the neck is fine reddish orange ; 

 the under parts white. This description of plumage applies to 

 the Great Bustard, O. tarda. The male bird of this species, is 

 about four feet long, and nine feet in the expansion of the wings, 

 being (except the Lammergeyer,) the largest of the European 

 birds. Its weight is, on an average, twenty-five pounds. The 

 female is not more than half the size of the male. This bird 

 is noted for its shyness, and its power of running ; ihe young 

 birds have sometimes been run with greyhounds. And yet, in 

 its wild state, unlike the Ostrich, the Great Bustard, upon being 

 disturbed, rises easily upon the wing, and "flies with much 

 strength and swiftness, usually to another haunt, sometimes to 

 the distance of six or seven miles." It was formerly said, this 

 bird "has a pouch in the fore part of the neck, capable of con- 

 taining nearly two quarts," but Mr. Yarrell, in dissecting a 

 male Bustard, " failed to detect this organ." This Bustard is 

 common in some parts of Europe, but is becoming very rare in 

 England. It feeds upon corn, seeds of herbs, colewort. dande- 

 lion leaves, &c., and also upon insects and worms. Turnip-tops 

 are said to be peculiarly agreeable. The eggs of the Bustard 

 are two in number, generally, sometimes three, laid upon the 



