THE BUSTARD. 41 



There is another beautiful bird, a native of South America, 

 which some naturalists class with the pheasant. — It is called the 

 trumpeter. The individuals of this species vary in colour. It 

 is very familiar, and will follow a person about like a spaniel. 

 It feeds on bread, fish, or flesh, and is reckoned as delicious 

 food as the common pheasant. 



The curassow, which comprehends five or six varieties, bears 

 a strong resemblance to the pheasant, although most naturalists 

 agree in considering it a distinct genus. In Peru and Mexico, 

 this kind is very numerous, both in a wild and domestic state. 



The pheasant was originally brought into Europe from the 

 banks of the Phasis, a river in Colchis, in Asia Minor ; and 

 thence has derived its name. Though removed from its natal 

 soil, it thrives well in the climate of Great Britain, where, still 

 retaining its attachment to freedom, it lives wild in the forests 

 and parks, of which it constitutes an enlivening ornament. It 

 labours, however, under one disadvantage, which prevents its 

 multiplication in such a degree as might otherwise be expected. 

 The slowness of its rising from the ground, caused in a great 

 measure by the length of its tail, renders it extremely liable to 

 be destroyed by the weasel, the foumart, and other animals of 

 that kind. 



THE BUSTARD 



Is the largest land bird that is a native of Great Britain, or 

 even of Europe. Its weight varies considerably: some have 

 been found of not more than ten pounds ; others weigh from 

 twenty to thirty. This species appears to have been pretty gen- 

 erally diffused; for according to Plutarch, it is found in Lybia, 

 in the environs of Alexandria, in Syria, in Greece, and in Spsin. 

 It also abounds in some parts of France. In England, their 

 principal places of rendezvous are Salisbury plain, the heaths of 

 Sussex and Cambridgeshire, and the Dorsetshire uplands. In 

 those extensive plains, where there arc neither woods nor hedges 

 to skreen the sportsman, the bustards enjoy security, and are 

 often seen in flocks of fifty or more together. Their food con- 

 sists principally of berries that grow among the heath, and earth- 

 worms, which, before sunrise in the summer season, appear in 

 great numbers on the downs. It is in vain that the fowler creeps 

 along to surprise them ; they have always sentinels stationed in 

 proper places, to warn them of the first appearance of danger. 

 But although they can seldom be shot, they are sometimes 

 bunted and taken by dogs, when they are grown so fat as to be 

 unable to fly without great preparation. This bird was once 

 lar more plentiful than at present. The increased cultivation 

 of the countrv, and the dcliciousness of its flesh, have greatly 



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