260 . OTIDID.E. 



difficult to make them rise as a Landrail. They nest in the 

 beginning of May, laying three shiny smooth olive-green eggs, 

 more or less blotched with dark brown, which are placed among 

 the corn or long grass. 



Male in spring till August. General colour above sandy brown ; throat 

 and cheeks bluish black, with two white gorget-marks across. 



Adult male. Back vermiculated with black, but otherwise in winter 

 resembles the female. 



Female. Back spotted or Uotclied with black on sandy-brown ground- 

 colour ; underparts white ; iris golden yellow. Length 16-17 inches. 



281. Eupodotis arabs (Linnaeus). The North - African 



Bustard. 



This large Bustard was obtained by Mr. Tyrwhitt-Drake in the 

 north of Morocco ; and towards the south, about Mogador, it is 

 stated to be common. 



Larger than the Great Bustard (Otis tarda), it has the entire 

 back covered with those delicate vermiculated feathers, sandy 

 brown crossed with fine lines of deep brown almost black, which 

 are so valuable for artificial flies. Similarly marked feathers are 

 found in the other species of Eupodotis in India, the Cape, and 

 Australia. 



282. Houbara undulata (Jacq.). The Western Houbara or 



Ruffed Bustard. 



This Bustard is not mentioned by Favier; but I saw one 

 specimen which had been obtained near Tangier in August ; 

 further south it is stated to be frequently met with. 



In Andulacia is a rare straggler and has occurred near Malaga. 



Above blotched, not vermiculated. Crest of white feathers ; black and 

 white ruff on sides of neck. Length 26-30 inches. 



