343 



CHAPTEE XXXT. 



THE LITTLE BUSTARD. 

 (Otis tetrax.) 



While the Great Bustard takes chief place amongst the 

 game-birds of Em-ope, both as regards size and sporting 

 quahties, his smaller relative, the Little Bustard — in 

 Spanish, Sison — must certainly head the list of the wily 

 find unapproachable. 



Against the Great Bustard, watchful as he is, fair 

 measures can successfully be brought to bear, but no skill 

 that we know of — none, that is, of legitimate sporting 

 kind — will avail against the Sison. We may at once 

 classify him as the most difficult of all game-birds to bring 

 to bag. That he is frequently shot is no disproof of this 

 assertion. The birds being abundant, it would be strange 

 indeed if none fell " haphazard " to chance shots when 

 the sportsman is in pursuit of other game. - 



The habits of the Little Bustard are, in general, 

 much the same as those of the larger species. They 

 frequent, in the main, the same ground ; the young are 

 reared amidst the securit}^ of the ripening corn ; in 

 autumn they form into packs or bands, and sx^end their 

 days upon the open plain. 



We have not, however, met with these Inrds on the 

 dead-level plains, so attractive to the Ahntarda, and their 

 preference is undoubtedly for more undulated lands. We 

 have observed them as far uj) as corn grows on the foot- 

 hills of the sierra. 



In the month of April the Little Bustards are all paired, 

 differing in this respect from the free-loving (?) Otis tarda. 



