Si. Qiiiiiliii : Some Avicultural Notes. iir 



about five j^eais old. The females probably breed when a 

 season younger. The female mentioned above as having 

 hatched a young bird in igoi, was just four years old ; while a 

 young male of the same age was not that year in fully complete 

 nuptial dress at the time she was incubating. 



There have been sometimes wild suggestions that the Great 

 Bustard if domesticated would be of great economical value. 

 The argument being — the Turkey is an undoubtedly useful 

 bird, and why not also the Great Bustard, which is very nearly 

 as big ? I need hardly say that these enthusiasts ignore some 

 essential facts connected with the Bustard's nature : — First, 

 it is in no way related to the Order which contains the fowls 

 and gamebirds ; secondly, it is not adult till it is four or five 

 years old ; thirdly, it lays only two, or at most three eggs ; 

 fourthly, though several persons in this country have for years 

 been trjdng to breed them in captivitj^ no one has yet been 

 successful ! 



The hatching of a young Great Bustard in captivity, being 

 such an exceptional event, perhaps I may refer to it. At that 

 time I had a fine old male in full display. In addition to the 

 four-year-old male above mentioned, there were two young hens 

 of the same age running with him ; and besides the one which 

 hatched, the other also laid eggs, but they were unfertile. 

 The male never seemed to notice but the one female, and so far 

 as it goes, this case points to the birds having paired : though 

 some persons who have watched Great Buscards in the wild 

 state consider them polygamous. 



In the enclosure there was a group of coarse grass tussocks, 

 and the hen bird made a deep scratch, with no lining amongst 

 them ; and when she was sitting she was well concealed. I 

 was amused to see that both the males were quite aware that 

 the hen was hidden in the grass, and used to strut round the 

 place, peering forward with outstretched necks. When they 

 came too near, the hen still hidden, would sometimes utter 

 several gruff barks, as if warning them to clear out. The Great 

 Bustard, by the way, has no note except this bark, which is 

 not loud, and a curious whining whistle, which carries a long 

 way, and is particularly difficult to locate. This is, I believe, 

 the cry of the young, but it is occasionally used by the adults, 

 when separated from their companions, and in distress. 



Though peaceable enough at most times, the old male would 

 not allow the young male to ' display ' in his sight, when the 



igio Mar. i. 



