THE STILT-WALKERS. 3 



the stomachs of those he killed were literally crammed with stalks and ears of barley, and with 

 the leaves of a large green weed, and a kind of black beetle. Such as he observed generally 

 flew, when flushed, two miles or more at an elevation of at least a hundred yards. The same 

 gentleman states that they never attempted to escape by running, and that if winged, they showed 

 a disposition to remain and fight rather than to have recourse to their legs. An individual, kept 

 by Mr. Bartley, lived principally upon birds, chiefly Sparrows, which it swallowed whole, feathers 

 and all, with the greatest avidity ; it also ate the flowers of charlock and the leaves of rape, as well 

 as mice, and, indeed, any animal substance it casually met with. In disposition these Bustards 

 are so shy and wild that, according to Schomburghk, they can never be approached except whilst 

 eating. On the Continent they are often shot with a rifle. The flesh of the young is much -esteemed, 

 and is often exposed for sale in European markets. Like other members of the family, this species 

 is not stationary in one place, but when it does not actually migrate, flies, at certain seasons of 

 the year, to a considerable distance from its native haunts. When about to mount on the wing, 

 it takes two or three springy steps, and then rises with slowly flapping pinions until it has reached 

 a certain height, when it darts away with such rapidity as almost baffles the eye and gun of the 

 sportsman. Whilst in flight the neck and legs are stretched forwards, and the hinder part of the body 

 kept low, thus imparting an indescribable peculiarity to the bird when seen in the air. The voice 

 of the Great Bustard is so low as to be scarcely audible except at a short distance. According to 

 Naumann, during the breeding season it utters a deep dull sound, resembling the syllables " hah, hah, 

 hah." In their habits these birds are strictly terrestrial ; the whole day is passed upon the ground ; 

 the early morning hours being occupied in fighting, screaming, and feeding ; at noon they repose 

 for a time and dust themselves preparatory to going again in search of food before evening -closes 

 in. The pairing season is in April, and at that time desperate battles take place among the males. 

 During these engagements the tails of the combatants are raised and spread out in the manner of a 

 fan, the wings hang down to the ground, and they charge each other like Turkey-cocks. The 

 strongest collects about him the largest harem, and pairing takes place in die same amusing way as 

 among the Turkeys. The female lays two or three olive-grey eggs, marked with red and liver-brown 

 spots, in a hole which she scratches in the ground. The period of incubation is said to be twenty- 

 eight days, and as soon as the young are hatched, they are capable of following their mother in 

 search of food. 



The methods adopted for capturing the Bustard are various. From its extremely shy nature, 

 and from its habit of keeping to the open country, it is not easy of approach. Of wayfaring people, 

 however, it seems to have little apprehension ; the usual plan, therefore, is for the sportsman either 

 to clothe himself like a peasant, or to put on female apparel, and to make up to it with a basket 

 on his back, and holding the gun closely by his side. Sometimes, also, these birds are chased with 

 greyhounds, which are conveyed towards them in covered carts, until such time as they evince 

 symptoms of alarm and begin to move off, when the dogs are slipped from tiieir couplings. 



In the Catalogue of the Tradescant Museum, preserved at South Lambedi, bearing date 1656, is 

 mentioned: " The Bustard, as big as a Turkey, usually taken by greyhounds on Newmarket Heath ;" 

 and Mr. Knox states in his " Systematic Catalogue of the Birds of Sussex," published in 1835, t '" iat 

 he met with some very old people who, in their younger days, had seen flocks of these noble birds 

 on the downs. Royston Heath is mentioned by AYillughby as frequented by them, and White 

 of Selborne, in his Journal records: "I spent three hours of this day, November 17, T7S2, at a lone 

 farmhouse in the midst of the downs, between Andover and Winton. The carter told us that, 

 about twelve years before, he had seen a flock of eighteen Bustards on that farm, and once since only 

 two." The authors of the "Catalogue of the Birds of Norfolk and Suffolk," published in 1S27, affirm 



