BUSTARDS. Ill 



thickly strewed as to form a solid mass of "two cubits 

 from the face of the earth/' But Josephus, who must 

 be allowed to be a better judge of the meaning of 

 words in the Scripture than we can be, and more 

 conversant with the subject on which he w r rites, 

 explains the passage by saying that it merely meant, 

 that the Quails flew within reach of the Israelites, 

 about two cubits above the ground, which they, in 

 fact, often do when exhausted, and are knocked down 

 by the Arabs with sticks. 



The Quail is the smallest of the poultry tribe, but 

 there is one more to be mentioned, forming the con- 

 necting link between this and the last of the gallina- 

 ceous order, by far the largest of the family. We 

 mean the Bustard, of w r hose courage in attacking a 

 man and horse we have already spoken'"". The 

 Bustard can fly; but its usual motion is on foot, 

 running with such speed as often to rival a grey- 

 hound. Formerly they were common on our plains, 

 and in the open country of England; but as enclo- 

 sures have taken place, they have gradually disap- 

 peared, and are now supposed to be, in this country, 

 an extinct species. 



In Norfolk it is said that there are a few still 

 remaining ; the last authentic instance is that of 

 a gamekeeper at Creswall, near Mildenhall, Norfolk, 

 who took a hen Bustard in a rabbit-trap, in the 

 month of May, 1829, and the male was seen about 

 the same time in the neighbourhood. 



One great peculiarity deserves mentioning, namely, 

 a singular pouch, which they have large enough to 

 hold upwards of a quart of water. Its use has not 

 * Page 94. 



