Bustards 343 



range they return, to the number of millions, to their winter homes, where they 

 frequent the plains and are difficult of approach. Their habits are similar to 

 those of the larger species. 



Stanley Bustard. Africa south of the Sahara may be regarded as the head- 

 quarters of the present group, and although we have not space to mention all, 

 we may select a sufficient number to convey a fair idea of them. Thus the genus 

 Neotis, which includes five species, may be known by the absence of the whisker- 

 like feathers on the cheeks and by the long bill exceeding the length of the middle 

 toe with its claw. Of these the Stanley Bustard (AT. ca/rd), a bird about thirty- 

 eight inches long, is found in South and East Africa. It is ashy black above, 

 much waved and streaked, with the sides of the face, nape, sides of the neck, 

 and entire lower parts white, while the top of the head, wings, and tail are white 

 with black bands. In South Africa they are found on the plains in the interior 

 away from the seacoast, feeding on seeds, insects, and small reptiles, preferring 

 ground that has recently been burnt in which to hunt for their food. They are 

 very shy yet stupid birds, for even where there is no cover, "if the sportsman take 

 a large circle round and round, gradually nearing the bird, the Bustard will 

 frequently squat down with his head to the ground, thinking he will be passed 

 unnoticed, when the sportsman may run up to within easy shooting distance." 

 At the "showing-off" season the males parade before the females, expanding 

 the throat, uttering a loud booming noise, which can be heard at a great distance. 

 Of the nest, Mr. Ayres says: "These birds frequently breed amongst the rocks 

 and stones on the top of some hill ; the nest is merely a slight excavation scratched 

 in the ground with perhaps a handful of grass. The eggs are two in number, 

 and the old bird sits so close that she will almost let one tread on her before she 

 rises." 



Pink-collared Bustard. Closely allied but without the crest on the nape and 

 hind neck is the Pink-collared Bustard (Heterotetrax vigor si), which may be taken 

 as typical of a group of three species separated under this genus (Heterotetrax). 

 They are a third or more smaller than the last mentioned, the so-called Pink- 

 collared Bustard being but twenty inches long, and dull ashy, minutely mottled 

 with dark brown and black above, with the chin and upper throat jet-black. 

 The whole plumage in life is glossed with a delicate pink luster which, however, 

 fades after death. It is found usually in pairs among the scant herbage of the 

 dry plains, and like the last has the habit of squatting close to the ground, where 

 it fancies it has not been observed. Not far separated from this is the African 

 Black Bustard (Compsotis afro), so named from the prevailing deep black color 

 of the plumage, and the White-quilled Bustard (C. leucoptera), which has a large 

 patch of white on the wing-quills. 



Long-beaked Bustards. The only remaining group of Bustards proper that 

 we shall mention are the so-called Long-beaked Bustards (Eupodotis), of which 

 three species are found in Africa, and- a single one each in the Indian peninsula 

 and Australia. They belong to a section of the family in which the feathers of 

 the lower throat and the fore neck are conspicuously elongated so as to form a 

 shield overhanging the crop, and further the crown of the head is strongly crested 



