Bustard. RASORES. OTIS. 443 



practice of hand-hoeing the corn, all endeavours may prove 

 ineffectual. 



Upon Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire (where it used formerly 

 to abound), we are told by Montagu, that, from the great 

 price obtained for the eggs and young, to hatch and rear in 

 confinement, it had become very rare ; and, in the Supple- 

 ment to his work, published in 1813, he says that not a single 

 Bustard had been seen for two or three years previous to that 

 date, even in their most favourite haunts. As, from the an- 

 swers to all inquiries on this subject, I am not able to state 

 their reappearance, it must be concluded that the breed is 

 now extinct upon those extensive downs, of which it once 

 formed the appropriate ornament. The Bustard resides in 

 its native haunts through the whole year, frequenting the 

 corn-fields in summer, and being found amongst turnips in 

 the winter season ; and, in very severe storms of snow, when 

 the ground may be deeply covered, it is sometimes compel- 

 led (in small flocks) to seek for more sheltered situations, or 

 to visit the maritime parts of the country. But these migra- 

 tions too often prove fatal, so large an object soon attracting 

 attention ; and it rarely escapes from the number of its pur- 

 suers. 



The female deposits two eggs upon the bare ground (oc- Ego's. 

 casionally amongst clover, but more frequently in corn-fields) 

 early in spring; which rather exceed those of a turkey in 

 size, and their colour is a yellowish-brown,' inclining to oil- 

 green, with slight darker variations. Incubation lasts four 

 weeks, and the young, as soon as excluded, follow their pa- 

 rent, but are incapable of flight for a long time.— The Bus- 

 tard lives chiefly upon the various grasses, trefoils, &c. ; it Food. 

 will also feed on seeds and grain, and is particularly fond of 

 green corn and the tops of turnips, which last constitute its 

 chief winter's supply. It also eats worms, and has been 

 known to devour mice and young birds, which are swallowed 

 whole. The stomach is membranaceous, and able to contain 

 a great quantity of food. 



