4 C J4 BUSTARDS. CIIARADIUADJE, OR FLOVI.RS. 



under the skin of the neck, capable of holding seven pint? of 

 water, and communicating with the mouth hy an opening under 

 the tongue. This, however, has lately been found to be an error, 

 as no such structure exists in the Bustard. The Little Bustard. 

 which also is a native of Britain (though now, like the preceding, 

 a rare Bird), is not above one-third of the dimensions of the pre- 

 ceding ; and its wings are shorter in proportion. Other species 

 of Bustards are found in Africa and India ; some of them closely 

 allied to those just described ; whilst others partake of the char- 

 acters of the next family. 



44-"). In the comprehensive family of CIIARADUIAD.I:. or 

 Plud'i'S, the legs are long, the toes short, the hinder one small or 

 altogether wanting (Fig. 207), and the win^s lon^r and powerful. 

 The hill is short, and arched towards the tip ; its covering is soft 

 at the base, but hard at the extremity. These Bird.- chieflv 

 frequent sandy unsheltered shores, and exposed commons or 

 moors. They congregate in flocks, and run with jjreat swiftness; 

 many of them are nocturnal in their hat its. They belong, for 

 th'j most part, to the Old AVorid ; and are abundant in temperate 

 climates. Of the true Plovers', we have a good example in the 

 (inlh'U Plover, which is a Bird of Passage, spread over Kurope, 

 Western Asia, and portions of North Africa. It breeds in various 

 parts of the British Isles; but it is oidv found in the southern 

 di-triets during the winter, at which time its numbers are much 

 increased by arrivals from northern latitudes. As in the Bustards, 

 tlie wintt r livery differs considerably from ihe summer; bcliii; 

 lighter in tine, and less varied. The ili-ht of this species is rapid 

 and vigorous, and, during tin- spring and summer, is usually at 

 a greater i levation ; and ihe Bird is frequently si en in the air 

 ] ii I'forminLf the mo-t uraeei'ul evolutions as it sails round and 

 ii.nud It takes it- repose during the day; and goes forth at 

 uiuht in search of it- food, which consists of inserts. larv;e, slugs, 

 worms, \e. i< r the-r it frequents fallow lands in the autumn, 

 and then becomes \ery fat: in which state it i.- mu< h esteemed 

 as a luxury for the table. 'I he Plover associates in pairs during 

 the breeding season ; but at other time- indiscriminately in large 

 Hock-. The i'g^> are usuallv deposited in the neighbourhood of 



