OTIS TETBAX. 259 



During August, when very hot, between eleven and four, they 

 lie " like stones " in long grass, requiring a dog to flush them ; 

 but the heat is then so excessive that one is almost as likely to 

 get a sunstroke as a Little Bustard, and I myself could never 

 stand such work. 



The nearest place to Gibraltar that these birds are seen is on 

 the plain between Los Barrios and Palmones, where occasionally 

 in autumn and winter a few appear ; but they are too much 

 bullied by Gibraltar sportsmen to remain there long. The 

 Moorish names given above are significant of the rattling noise 

 which the Little Bustard makes in rising ; and when the flock is 

 large this can be heard a very long way off. There is none of 

 this sound of the wings in the rising of the slow-flying Great 

 Bustard. 



When on the wing, the Little Bustard, except when at a great 

 height, may always be recognized by its white or, rather, pied 

 appearance, caused by the greater part of the wings being white. 

 "When these are closed, and they are settled on the ground, this 

 white does not show, and they are very difficult to make out or 

 notice, particularly as they usually frequent ground which has 

 some cover (in the shape of weeds, thistles, or grass). In the 

 breeding-season they keep entirely among thick herbage, and at 

 that time I never could get a sight of one on the ground. 



In my opinion there is no bird better food than the Little 

 Bustard, and they are equal to the Indian Florican in this respect, 

 which is saying a great deal for them. 



The male Little Bustard in the breeding-season has a most 

 peculiar call, which can be easily imitated by pouting out and 

 pressing the lips tight together and then blowing through them ; 

 the birds when thus calling seem to be close to you, but are often 

 in reality half a mile off. They must possess powers of ventri- 

 loquism, as I have often imagined that, they were quite close to 

 me, and upon hunting the spot with a dog found no signs of 

 them anywhere near ; indeed, at that season it is sometimes as 



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