38 OTIN^E. OTIS. 



testine of moderate length and width, cceca long. Nostrils 

 oblong or linear, direct, slightly operculate, nearly basal. 

 Eyes rather large. Aperture of ear large. Legs long, 

 rather slender ; tibia bare to a considerable extent ; tar- 

 sus long, reticulated ; toes short, the first generally want- 

 ing, scutellate above, marginate, flattened beneath, with 

 short basal webs ; claws short, arched, convex, obtuse. 

 Plumage moderate, compact ; wings large, pointed ; tail 

 short, of twelve or more feathers. 



The Otinse have been referred by some in part to the 

 Gallinaceous order, and in part to the family of Plovers, 

 to both of which they have evident relations. Their 

 flight is strong and sustained, in the larger species sel- 

 dom employed on ordinary occasions, but in some of the 

 smaller, habitually used. They all run with very great 

 speed, and most of them feed on vegetable substances, 

 worms, and insects. The young, covered with down, run 

 from the first. The males are larger than the females. 

 Four species of this family occur in Britain, all of them 

 very rare, although one was formerly numerous. 



GENUS LXXXV. OTIS. BUSTARD. 



Bill shorter than the head, moderately stout, nearly 

 straight, depressed at the base, compressed toward the end ; 

 upper mandible with the dorsal line straight for half its 

 length, then declinate and convex, the ridge narrow to be- 

 yond the nostrils, the nasal sinus large and feathered at the 

 base, the edges inflected for half their length, then direct, 

 the tip narrowed but blunt ; lower mandible with the angle 

 long and narrow, the dorsal line slightly ascending and nearly 

 straight, the edges sharp and direct, the tip narrow but blunt ; 

 the gape-line little arched. Mouth rather narrow ; upper 

 mandible internally with three prominent lines, lower more 

 deeply concave ; oesophagus rather narrow ; proventriculus 

 bulbiform ; stomach oblong or roundish, very muscular, with 

 radiated tendons, large lateral muscles, and dense rugous 

 epithelium ; intestine of moderate length and width ; coeca 



