660 THE LITTLE BUSTARD. 



The Great Bustard is not fond of flying, its wings having but a slow and deliberate 

 movement ; but on foot it is very swift, and tests the speed of dog and horse before it can 

 be captured. 



The nest if a hole in the ground may be called a nest of this bird is generally made 

 among corn, rye, &c., although it is sometimes situated in rather unexpected localities. 

 The eggs are two or three in number, and of an olive-brown colour, splashed with light 

 brown, in which a green tinge is perceptible. The food of the bird is almost wholly of a 

 vegetable nature, though it is said to feed occasionally upon mice, lizards, and other small 

 vertebrates. The flesh of the Bustard is very excellent, but the extreme rarity of these 

 birds prevents it from being often seen upon English tables. "When caught young, the 

 Bustard can be readily tamed, and soon becomes quite familiar with those who treat it 

 kindly. 



The head and upper part of the neck are greyish white, and upon the side of the neck 

 there is a small patch of slaty blue bare skin, almost concealed by the curious feather tuft 

 which hangs over it. The upper part of the body is pale chestnut, barred with black, and 

 the tail is of similar tints with a white tip, and a very broad black band next to the white 

 extremity. The wing-coverts, together with the tertials, are white, and the primaries 

 black. The under surface of the body ia white. The total length of an adult male is about 

 forty-five inches. 



The LITTLE BUSTARD is also an occasional visitor to this country ; and whenever it 

 does make its appearance, it almost invariably chooses the winter time. 



It is by no means uncommon in several parts of Europe, and in Russia, assembles in 

 little flocks. Towards the shores of the Caspian Sea it is found in greater numbers, the 

 flocks being of considerable size, and all appearing (in the month of December) to consist 

 of birds which have not put on, or which have already put off, their nuptial plumage. 

 This bird feeds upon insects, herbs, grasses, and seeds, and its flesh is very good, having 

 been compared to that of a young pheasant. The eggs are placed on the ground among a 

 tuft of rank herbage in which the bird can lie concealed ; their number is about four, and 

 their colour olive-brown. 



The male, when in full plumage, is a decidedly handsome bird. The top of the head is 

 fawn and black, and the sides of the face and neck are slaty grey. Around the neck runs a 

 broad gorget of black, cut by two white bands, one narrow and forming a ring round the neck, 

 and the other, broader and of semilunar shape, just across the top of the breast. The upper 

 parts of the body are fawn, mottled profusely with black, and the wings are beautifully 

 marked with black and white. The under surface of the~ body is white. The female is 

 without the beautiful black and white stripes on the neck and chest, and her breast, sides, 

 and flanks are barred with black. Except during the breeding season, the male has the 

 same plumage. The total length of this bird is about seventeen inches. 



THERE are many other Bustards scattered over the world, some being well known in 

 India under the title of Florikans, and others being distributed over Africa. The HOUBARA, 

 or RUFFLED BUSTARD, is well known, on account of its curious-plumed ruffles and the sport 

 which it afrords to Algerian falconers. There are also two South African species, the Pauw 

 and the Koran, which are often casually mentioned in the works of African travellers. 

 Both these birds belong to the genus Eupodotis, anb of them Captain Dray son, R.A., has 

 kindly given me the following account : 



" The PAUW bird is more sought for by the pot-hunter than any other in South Africa. 

 Its size is about that of a turkey, and its flesh delicious. On the breast of this bird there 

 are two coloured meats. First, there is a dark brown, similar to that of the grouse ; but 

 beneath this there is white meat, which is similar in appearance to chicken's flesh. 



The Pauw is usually found on the plains, which it prefers to bushy country ; for as it 

 is a very crafty bird, it does not like to give the sportsman an opportunity to stalk it 

 When the long grass of the plains has been burnt, and the young grass began to shoot up, 

 then would numbers of Pauws assemble on the ground, and search for the worms and 

 slugs which became visible. There was little chance, however, of approaching within two 



