Little Bustard. 367 



I found a considerable cellular fatty deposit very thickly cover- 

 ing the interior of the skin of the neck, more especially at the 

 back of it. This I had to remove very carefully and patiently, 

 bit by bit, with the scalpel. It gave the neck a very thick ap- 

 pearance, and when felt from the outside was soft, somewhat as 

 in the pouch of 0. tarda ; but in this case there was no trace of 

 pouch or sac.* 



In habits, localities it frequents, and food, it very much re- 

 sembles its larger congener. In Algeria it is known as ' Poule 

 de Carthage.' At the breeding season it pours forth its cry of 

 prut, prut, jumping up at the conclusion of each strain or call, 

 and striking the ground in a peculiar manner on its descent.-)- 

 For an interesting account of the manner in which sportsmen 

 hunt the Little Bustard on the steppes or prairies of the Do- 

 brudscha, and how they circumvent these wily birds by approach- 

 ing them under cover of an araba, I would refer my readers to 

 an able article by Mr. W. H. Simpson.j In France it is Outarde 

 canepetiere ; in Germany, Kleine Trappe ; in Sweden, Liten- 

 Trapp ; in Italy, Gallina pratarola, ' meadow-hen ;' in Spain, 

 Sison, and in Portugal, Cizdo, both meaning ' pilferer.' Tetrax 

 may possibly mean ' a cackler/ or perhaps it is a Persian word 

 (B.O.U.). 



' Spring Tour in Portugal,' p. 208. 



f Fourth edition of YarrelFs ' British Birds,' vol. iii., p. 218. 



t Ibis for 1861, p. 370. 



