1 

 difficult of approach, and although a shot or two may 



occasionally be obtained by " driving," as a rule the 



birds mount high in the air on rising, and generally 



pass over the concealed gunners far out of shot-range. 



On the other hand, during the breeding-season, although 



the Little Bustard will run at great speed in good covert 



before an enemy, we had little difficulty in procuring as 



many specimens as we required by advancing in line to 



the spot from which we had seen one of the male birds 



jump, or heard his call, and in the great heats of August 



and September these birds he very close in any available 



shade of grass or weeds. When the bird is alone, or 



only in company of a mate, I have found that a close 



approach on horseback is often feasible, especially if 



accompanied by the tinkle of a cattle-bell attached to 



the neck of the quadruped. 



The flesh of this bird is, in my opinion, of excellent 

 quality, and is frequently served up in Spanish inns 

 under the name of "Faisan " (Pheasant), to which it has 

 no likeness, either in taste or colour. In the Regency 

 of Tunis, where I met with the Little Bustard in great 

 numbers in November and December, and also in 

 Algeria, it is known to the European inhabitants as 

 " Poule de Carthage." 



The flight of this bird is exceedingly rapid and easy, 

 and the action of the wings produces a loud whistling 

 sound, from which the Spanish name of " Sison " is 

 derived. The few nests that I have seen were composed 

 of dried straws and grass-stems in a shallow scratching, 

 amongst growing corn or in thick covert of natural vege- 

 tation. The eggs ai'e three or four in number, of a dark 



