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GREAT BUSTAED.— Olis tarda. 



THE GRALL^ 



BUSTARDS, PLOVERS, CRANES. HERONS, ETC. 



LTHOTTGrH the progress of civilization has conferred many benefits on Europe, it 

 has deprived it of many of its aboriginal inhabitants, whether furred or feathered, 

 the Great Bustard being in the latter category. 



This splendid bird, although in former days quite a usual tenant of plains and 

 commons, and having been an ordinary object of chase on Newmarket Heath, is 

 now so very rare, that only an occasional specimen makes its appearance at very 

 rare intervals, and is then generally found — and shot — on Salisbury Plain. In 

 the countries which it still inhabits, it is a most wary bird, and very difficult of approach, 

 being generally shot with rifles after a careful and lengthened chase that rivals deer-stalking 

 in the watchfulness and perseverance that are requisite before the sportsmen can get within 

 shot. They are carried in carts, covered with ordinary farm produce, and having an aperture 

 through which they can aim ; they put on various disguises; they enact the part of agricul- 



