LITTLE BUSTAKD 199 



much dilated, and at this time of year the male remains 

 about the same spot for many hours in the day. 



Food. Grain is consumed in large quantities, while small 

 mammals, frogs, slugs, snails, and insects, are also eaten. 



Nest. The nest of dry grass is built on the ground in 

 places where the vegetation is tall enough to cover the 

 sitting-bird. The eggs, numbering three to four in the 

 clutch, are greenish-brown in ground-colour, with darker 

 patches, and often zoned with reddish-brown or rufous. 

 Incubation usually begins towards the end of May. 



The males fight to gain the possession of the females, 

 and after breeding, the birds form large packs which, as 

 winter approaches, break up into smaller parties. 



Unlike the Great Bustard, the Little Bustard has never 

 been known to breed in the British Isles. 



Geographical distribution. This is a south-eastern 

 species, breeding in many countries of Southern Europe, 

 also in Asia and North Africa. On migration it has been 

 recorded from Norway and Sweden, while in Germany it 

 occurs chiefly as a winter- visitor. It also migrates in winter 

 to north-western India. 



DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERS. 



PLUMAGE. Adult male nuptial. Top of head, back, and 

 scapulars, rather light brown, streaked profusely with fine 

 black lines ; wing-coverts, breast, and abdomen, white ; 

 cheeks and throat, grey ; neck, black, interrupted by a white 

 U-shaped loop above, and a collar of white below. 



Adult female ' nuptial. Feathers of the neck and 

 breast, brown, finely marked with black ; back and wings, 

 strongly marked with black streaks. 



Adult winter, male and female. Somewhat resembles 

 the female nuptial plumage. 



Immature, male and female. Somewhat resembles the 

 adult winter plumage. 



BEAK. Horn-grey, black at the tip ; base of lower 

 segment yellowish. 



FEET. Dull ochre-yellow. 



IBIDES. Dull yellowish-brown shading to reddish-brown. 



AVERAGE MEASUREMENTS. 



TOTAL LENGTH 17 in. 



WING 9.5 



BEAK I'l ,, 



TABSO-METATARSUS 2*5 ,, 



EGG 1'95 X 1'5 in. 



