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ARABIAN BUSTARD. 
the tops of turnips, and various other vegetables, 
as well as worms ; but they have been known also 
to eat frogs, mice, and young birds of the smaller 
kind, which they swallow whole : in the winter 
they frequently feed on the bark of trees ; they 
will also swallow any small substance presented to 
them, somewhat like the Ostrich. The chase of 
the Bustard is said to afford excellent diversion : 
they are slow at taking flight, but run so fast that 
nothing but greyhounds can overtake them. They 
do not appear to be capable of domestication, as 
many attempts have been made to rear them, but 
they always perish in two or three years, and do 
not shew any inclination to breed. 
The Bustard is migratory, though but little so 
in this kingdom, where it is most abundant in 
autumn, but in France it is likewise seen in tlie 
spring : on all the south plains of Russia and the 
deserts of Tartary it is likewise common, but does 
not appear to be found in any other part of Asia, 
or at all in Africa. 
ARABIAN BUSTARD. 
(Otis Arabs.) 
Ot. rufescens, nigricante striata, subtus alba, aurilus ereeto- 
cristatis, cauda JascidJuscd. 
