GRALLiE. 235 



the ground in search of worms, [to obtain which they have the habit of patting with the feet, 

 which causes the worms to rise] : those species in which it is more feeble frequent meadows 

 and newly-ploughed land, where this food can be procured with greater ease : those which 

 have stronger bills, subsist additionally on grain, herbage, &c. 



The Bustards {Otis, Lin.) — 

 With the heavy port of the Poultry, combine rather a long neck and legs, together with a moderately 

 stout bill, the superior mandible of which is slightly arcuated and vaulted ; and they also further 

 approximate the Gallinacem by the very small membrane at the base of their toes: but the nudily of 

 the lower- portion of the tibia, their whole anatomy, and even the flavour of their flesh, concur to 

 place them in the. present order, in common with various members of which they also want the 

 back-toe, and the smaller species are nearly allied to the Plovers. They have reticulated tarsi, and 

 short wings ; fly little, hardly ever using their wings, except to assist them in running, the same as 

 the Ostriches ; and feed equally on grain, herbage, and worms and insects. [The stomach is very capa- 

 cious, and extremely attenuated, contrasting remarkably with the muscular gizzard of the true Plovers ; 

 their plumage is moulted twice in the year, the males of most of them developing accessory ornamental 

 feathers, or black under-parts, in the spring ; and their flight, when they do fairly rise, is easy and 

 winnowing, and capable of considerable protraction. The species are numerous, and confined to the 

 Eastern Continent. 



The two first, one indigenous, the other an occasional visitant, in the British Isles, possess a comparatively 

 stout beak, which is compressed laterally.] 



The Great Bustard (0. tarda, Lin.). — Bright buff-coloured plumage on the upper-parts, crossed with numerous 

 black lines ; elsewhere greyish-white. The male, which is the largest of European birds, has [in its summer dress] 

 lengthened ear-coverts, which form a sort of large moustache on each side. This species, which is one of the 

 finest kinds of game, frequents extensive plains, and nestles on the ground amongst the corn. [It is polygamous, 

 and the female is much smaller than the male ; the latter being further distinguished by a very capacious mem- 

 branous sac beneath the tongue. The voice of the male is a remarkable explosive sound. This bird lays only two 

 eggs, of a dark greenish colour, with some black patches : the young, when first hatched, are very like young 

 Plovers. It has been nearly extirpated in Great Britain.] 



Tlie Little Bustard (O. tetrax, Lin.).— Less than half the size of the last species, and much less widely diffused ; 

 of a brown colour, speckled with black above, whitish underneath. The male with a black neck, [in summer plu- 

 mage only,] and two white collars. [In this species, the sexes scarcely differ in size, from which we should infer 

 that it is monogamous. It lays four or five spotless green eggs in corn-fields, and is also highly esteemed for 

 the table.] 



The greater number of exotic species have the bill more slender, [and depressed instead of compressed]. Among 

 them we may remark 



The Ruffed Bustard (0. houbara, Desm.), of Africa and Arabia, [and rarely Spain, the male of] which is adorned 

 with lengthened feathers on the sides of the neck. [Another species with this character exists in central Asia.] 



The Plovers {Charadrius, Lin.) — 

 Likewise want the hind-toe, and have a middle-sized bill, compressed, but swolii towards the tip. They 

 may be divided into two subgenera. 



The Thtck-knees {(Edicnemus, Tern.), — 

 Wherein the tip of the bill is inflated above as well as beneath, and the groove of the nostrils extends 

 only half the lengtli of the beak. They are the largest of the Plover group, and live by preference 

 upon arid and stony districts, feeding on slugs, insects, &c. They are allied to the smaller species of 

 Bustards [in their exterior conformation, but not in the structure of the stomach, which is a muscular 

 gizzard : their plumage also is moulted once only in the year, and they undergo no seasonal change of 

 colour]. Their legs are reticulated, and they have a short membrane at the base of their three toes. 



The European Thick-knee {Ch. (edicnemus, Lin. ; ffirf. crepitans, Tern.).— Size of [larger than] a Woodcock, 

 and fulvous-grey, with a brown streak along the middle of each feather ; the belly white, and a brown space under 

 the eye. [This is the Stone Curlew, Whistliiifi or Norfolk Plofcr, a&it is variously designated, which is common in 

 several districts of South Britain, and well known wherever it occurs from its sonorous whistling. It lays but 

 two eggs, which however do not resemble those of the Bustards, and taper at one end ; the smaller Bustards (as 

 we have seen) produce a greater number. The Thick-knees are for the most part migratory, but some regularly 

 stay the winter. We have reason to believe that it rears more than one brood in a season. There are several 

 exotic species, some considerably larger and much stouter]. 



