BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 295 



(Brcat JSu0tarb. 



THE Great Bustard (Otis tarda, Linnaeus), which formerly 

 bred in, but is now only an irregular nomadic spring, 

 autumn, and winter migrant to, the British Isles, inhabits 

 the Southern Palearctic Region. The adult male has the 

 head pale grey ; on each side of the base of the bill is a 

 long tuft of whitish feathers; throat and upper neck, 

 white; upper plumage, mostly yellowish-rusty or buffish- 

 red, barred and otherwise variegated with brown and 

 black ; chest, yellowish-rusty, with markings of chestnut ; 

 underneath, white; irides, dark hazel; bill, grey; tip, 

 darker; legs and feet, brown. Length, about forty-five 

 inches. The adult female is much smaller, and the mous- 

 tachial tuft and chestnut markings on chest are absent. 



