BUSTARD. RASORES. OTIS. 445 



far from this possibility existing with respect to the present 

 remnant of the breed, the young birds, upon being alarmed, 

 constantly squat close to the ground, in the same manner 

 as the young of the Lapwing, Golden Plover, &c., and in 

 that position are frequently taken by hand ; indeed, this is 

 even the habit of the female during the time of incubation. 



The flesh of the Bustard is dark in colour, short in fibre, 

 but sweet and well-flavoured, and is held in high estimation ; 

 on which account, and its rarity, this bird has always brought 

 exorbitant prices. 



Upon the Continent, it is found in some provinces of 

 France and in parts of Germany and Italy. It is common in 

 Russia, and on the extensive plains of Tartary. According 

 to TEMMIXCK, it is rare in Holland. 



PLATE 64. A male bird, about one-sixth of the natural size. 



The specimen from which the figure is taken was shot, 

 about six years ago, by the Reverend ROBERT HAMOND 

 of Swaff'ham, in the county of Norfolk, and is now in 

 his possession, as well as two females, and a young bird 

 of a month old. When killed, it weighed twenty-eight 

 pounds, and is a particularly fine specimen, being a full- 

 grown bird. The figure represents the attitude that 

 the bird assumes previous to flight ; or for a short time 

 after alighting, when its habit is that of not immediately 

 closing the wings. 



Bill strong, greyish- white ; the under mandible palest. General 

 Head, nape of the neck, and ear-coverts, bluish-grey, 



A streak of black passes along the crown of the head, Male. 

 reaching to the occiput. Chin-feathers and moustaches 

 composed of long wiry feathers, with the barbs disunited 

 and short. Fore part of the neck clothed with a naked 

 bluish-black skin, extending upwards towards the ear- 

 coverts, and covering the gular pouch. Sides of the 

 neck white, tinged with grey ; lower part of the neck 

 fine reddish-orange. At the setting on of the neck, or 



