125 



GENUS XXXV. 

 OTIS. 



Bill strong, and a little hooked, no back-toe. 



1. TARDA. GREAT BUSTARD. 



O nigro rufoque undulalo-maculata subtus albida, 

 capile (maris) juguloque utrinque cristato. Lath, 



The bill is strong and convex, of a brownish co- 

 lour ; the irides are orange-red ; on each side of the 

 lower mandible is a tuft of long feathers ; the head 

 and neck are ash colour ; the back and tail are barred 

 with black and brown ; beneath white ; the legs are 

 long, and naked above the knees \ the bottom of the 

 foot is furnished with a callous prominence, which 

 serves instead of a heel. 



The weight is 25lb. length 4 feet. 



The female is much less, and wants the long fea- 

 thers from the lower mandible. 



The great bustard was formerly found on the 

 downs of Wiltshire, but is now very rare. 



It feeds upon grain, worms, or the bark of trees. 



The female makes no nest, but deposits her eggs 

 in a hole, which she forms in the ground ; they are 

 of a pale olive colour, with dark spots. 



