276 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 



bably be traced to the miraculous support in the 

 desert of the Israelites, the powerful neighbours 

 of Tyre. 



The GREAT BUSTARD, the last in Great Britain of 

 the Gallinaceous Ortjer, is by far the largest of 

 the family. It is really a splendid bird; the 

 male, when full grown, is four feet in length, and 

 in breadth, nine feet. It was once not uncommon 

 in this country, but is now so extremely 

 rare that every individual capture is recorded. 

 Its latest haunts were in the county of Norfolk ; 

 but even there it is now all but extinct. In olden 

 times it was recorded that, " the bustard, as big as 

 a turkey, was usually taken by greyhounds, on 

 Newmarket heath." Salisbury Plain was also, 

 formerly, one of its favourite localities. The last 

 observed there was in 1813. 



This bird combines so many characters that it 

 stands alone, being different from every other 

 genus. Independently of its size, and the quality 

 of its flesh, which is highly prized, it is very 

 interesting. The structure of the feet adapts it 

 only to firm land ; and, as it cannot perch, and is 

 not well-formed for making its way among bushes, 

 it is never found but in the open^ country. The 

 bustard never wades, and seldom drinks. Its most 

 powerful motion is, not running, but flight ; for 

 which, heavy as it is, its large wings well adapt it, 



