GREAT BUSTARD. 
445 
made use of this appendage, by squirting the water 
that is contained therein with violence against 
the assailant, who is often baffled in the pursuit. 
Bustards appear to be natives of the greater part 
of Europe, but are not of equal frequency in all 
parts, particularly in well inhabited countries, as 
they from timidity avoid all commerce with man- 
kind, and the most paltry dog will drive whole 
herds of them away. In England they used to be 
met with in flocks of fifty or more, frequenting 
the open countries of the south and east parts, 
from Dorsetshire as far as the wolds in Yorkshire, 
but now they have become extremely scarce, the 
plains of Wiltshire furnishing the greater portion ; 
but they are in danger of total extirpation, as half 
a guinea is given in that part for the egg, and ten 
or twelve guineas for a pair of the birds ; in con- 
sequence the former is sought after for the pur- 
pose of hatching under common poultry, and the 
latter are often taken by the shepherds’ dogs 
before they can fly. 
These birds pair early in the spring : the female 
lays two eggs, in a hole formed by her feet on the 
bare ground ; they are about one month hatching, 
and are the size of those of a Goose, of an olive- 
brown colour, marked with spots of a deeper hue. 
If, during her absence from the nest, any one 
handles or even breathes upon the eggs, she imme- 
diately abandons them. The young ones follow 
the dam soon after they are excluded from the egg, 
but are not capable of flying for some time. 
The food of these birds consists of green corn^ 
