588 BRITISH BIRDS. 



tainous countries of Italy and Greece it is principally known as passing 

 through on migration ; but it is a resident in Sardinia and Sicily, and is 

 extremely common on the steppes both north and south of the Danube. 

 To Egypt it is principally known as a winter visitor, but in Palestine and 

 Asia Minor the greater number pass southwards in autumn. It breeds in 

 North Persia and Russian Turkestan, and winters in the valley of the 

 Indus. 



Although the Little Bustard winters in considerable numbers in the 

 basin of the Mediterranean, migratory flocks are constantly seen crossing 

 the Straits of Gibraltar in the west, and the Ionian Islands in the east, 

 during the month of April, returning again in October. In autumn the 

 flocks are much greater than they are in spring, and these birds are described 

 as sometimes crossing the steppes south of the Caucasus in millions. The 

 Little Bustard is quite as much a steppe-bird as the Great Bustard, and 

 is only found in extensive plains. It runs on the ground like a Partridge, 

 and is never known to perch in trees. It is solitary during the breeding- 

 season; but Hudleston, describing its habits in the Dobrudscha imme- 

 diately after its arrival, says that " the male birds are particularly 

 demonstrative at this time of the year, and being often occupied in para- 

 ding their attractions in groups of ten or a dozen to the females, which are 

 crouching somewhere in the grass, they are not so wide awake as at other 

 seasons, and thus afford a better chance to the gun." It has been said to 

 be polygamous, but there does not appear to be any evidence in support of 

 this conclusion. When I visited the steppes of the Danube in May last 

 year, although Great Bustards were constantly to be seen in flocks, I never 

 saw two Little Bustards together, probably because the smaller species 

 breeds in its first spring. 



In several respects it presents in its habits points of contrast to its 

 larger ally. It is a more southern bird, though in the Danubian steppes 

 it is much the commoner of the two. It is a partial migrant, arriving at 

 its breeding-grounds in flocks early in April, which are dispersed in May. 

 It is so much less than the Great Bustard, that by the middle of May the 

 grass and the flowers hide it completely from view. The females sit very 

 close and are difficult to find, but the males betray themselves by their 

 curious note. As you drive slowly across the steppes your attention is 

 arrested by a distant cry, resembling the sound of the syllable spurrtz. By 

 following with the waggon in the direction whence it proceeds for a hundred 

 yards or more, you may generally put up the bird, frequently within shot ; 

 but if followed on foot there is little or no chance of securing it. The 

 flight is quite different to that of the Great Bustard, more resembling that 

 of a Partridge than that of a Heron. The wings are moved with great 

 rapidity, and the flight is very straight, though not very slow. The beats 

 of the wing are so rapid that they make quite a loud whirring sound, and 



