SPORT AND TRAVEL 49 



a flock of large birds which I felt sure were great 

 bustards ; and on making inquiries I found that these 

 birds were common in this district, and were to be 

 seen from the station almost any day in the early 

 morning. Sure enough, on getting up soon after six 

 the next morning and taking a look round, I saw a 

 flock of about twenty of these magnificent fowl stand- 

 ing in the bare open plain not more than five hundred 

 yards from the station buildings, whilst others were 

 dotted about at greater distances. To attempt a stalk 

 was manifestly impossible ; but I thought that I might 

 get within shot by disguising myself as a Turkish 

 peasant, so, borrowing one of the great stiff square 

 and armless felt coats worn by the Yuruk shepherds, 

 I walked slowly out of the station, taking a line that 

 would bring me within two hundred yards of the bus- 

 tards. They evidently observed me at once, and one 

 and all stood motionless with their heads up. Not 

 knowing exactly how wild they were, I thought that if 

 I could get within two hundred yards of them I would 

 not attempt to approach any nearer, but would sit 

 down and take a steady shot at the biggest bird. I 

 picked out a monster, and, keeping my eye fixed upon 

 him as I advanced, at length thought I had better sit 

 down quickly and try a shot. Up to this moment the 

 bustards had stood like statues ; but the instant I 

 halted, and before I had even made an attempt at sit- 

 ting down, the whole flock rose from the ground like 

 one bird, and flew off without the preliminary flapping 



