132 HISTORY OF 



the heath, and the large earth-worms that appear in great quan. 

 titles on the downs before sun-rising in summer. It is in vain 

 that the fowler creeps forward to approach them, they have al- 

 ways sentinels placed at proper eminences, which are ever on 

 the watch, and warn the flock of the smallest appearance of dan- 

 ger. All therefore that is left the sportsman, is the comfortless 

 view of their distant security. He may wish ; but they are in 

 safety. 



It sometimes happens that these birds, though they are seldom 

 shot by the gun, are often run down by the grayhounds. A3 

 they are voracious and greedy, they often sacrifice their safety to 

 their appetite, and feed themselves so very fat, that they are un- 

 able to fly without great preparation. When the grayhound, there- 

 fore, comes within a certain distance, the bustard runs off flap- 

 ping its wings, and endeavouring to gather air enough under them 

 to rise ; in the meantime, the enemy approaches nearer and 

 nearer, till it is too late for the bird even to think of obtaining 

 safety by flight ; for just at the rise there is always time lost, 

 and of this the bird is sensible ; it continues, therefore, on the 

 foot, until it has got a sufficient way before the dog for flight, or 

 until it is taken. 



As there are few places where they can at once find proper 

 food and security, so they generally continue near their old 

 haunts, seldom wandering above twenty or thirty miles from 

 home. As their food is replete with moisture, it enables them 

 to live upon these dry plains, where there are scarcely any 

 springs of water, a long time without drinking. Besides this. 

 Nature has given the males an admirable magazine for their 

 security against thirst. This is a pouch, the entrance of which 

 lies immediately under the tongue, and capable of holding near 

 seven quarts o^ water.* This is probably filled upon proper 



* The size of this reservoir, seems something exaggerated : for witli an 

 addition of nearly fourteen pounds weight thrown forwards, the centre of 

 gravity must be so much overbalanced as to destroy its power of flight, and 

 impede its running. About half this quantity seems a probable sufficiency 

 for all its wants. This singular reservoir was first discovered by l)r 

 Douglas, who supposes that the bird fills it with water, to supply its thirst 

 in the middle of those extensive plains where it is accustomed to wander. 

 It likewise makes a further use of it in defending itself against the attacks of 

 birds of prey : on these occasions, it throws out the water with such vio- 

 leuce, as not unfrequently to baffle the pursuit of the enemy. 



