OTIN^E. OTIS. 39 



very long and wide. Nostrils linear, oblong, direct, slightly 

 operculate, nearly basal. Eyes rather large. Aperture of 

 ear moderate. Legs long, and rather slender ; tibia bare for 

 a third of its length, arid reticulate ; tarsus long, reticulated 

 with oblong subhexagonal scales ; toes three, short, scutellate 

 above, marginate, spreading, with short basal webs ; claws 

 short, depressed, convex, arched, thin-edged, obtuse. Plumage 

 moderate, compact ; feathers narrow on the head and neck, 

 ovate on the body ; wings long, broad, rather pointed, the 

 third quill longest, the second little shorter, the first as long 

 as the fifth ; tail short, of more than twelve feathers. 



Although furnished with large wings, these birds on ordi- 

 nary occasions make little use of them ; yet their flight is 

 strong and sustained. They run with great speed, couch on 

 the ground to avoid their enemies, feed on vegetable sub- 

 stances, worms, and insects, form a slight and rude nest 

 among the herbage, or a mere cavity, and lay from two to 

 five or more spotted eggs. Two species occur in Britain. 



162. OTIS TARDA. GREAT BUSTARD. 



Male with a tuft of slender elongated feathers from the 

 chin on each side ; the bill yellowish-brown, the feet brown ; 

 the head and upper neck greyish-white ; the lower hind neck, 

 back, scapulars, and upper tail coverts, light reddish-yellow, 

 transversely barred with black ; wing-coverts and inner secon- 

 daries white ; primaries black, with the shafts white ; tail 

 of twenty feathers, barred with yellow and black, and tipped 

 with white ; fore part of neck, and all the lower parts white. 

 Female much smaller, similar to the male, but with the tufts 

 from the chin wanting or short. Tail of twenty feathers. 



Male, 44 . ., 24, 2j, 9, 4, if. Female, 35. 



The Great Bustard, formerly plentiful in many parts of 

 England, is now of rare occurrence there, being found occa- 

 sionally in the southern, eastern, and north-eastern counties. 

 In Scotland, the only district in which it has of late years 

 been seen is the low part of Morayshire. It is said to have 

 been hunted with greyhounds ; yet many observers state that 

 it rises on the wing without difficulty, and has a strong sedate 

 flight. It runs with great speed, is generally very shy, keeps 

 in flocks, and feeds chiefly on vegetable substances, but also 

 on insects and worms. The nest is rudely constructed, among 

 grass or corn ; the eggs, according to Mr Yarrell, two or three 



