SOME FTJRTHEE NOTES ON THE GEEAT BUSTARD. 339 



March they are in bands of from five to fifty, males and 

 females together, though some of the former already begin 

 at early dawn to " show off " and to indulge in those fero- 

 cious-looking rehearsals preliminary — in appearance— to a 

 pitched battle, but which always seem to end in smoke. 

 Bound and round, in slow majestic circles, revolve the 

 rival barbones, each with trailing wings and tail expanded, 

 fan-like, over his back, the bristling head carried low, 

 the neck swollen out to abnormal thickness. Now, on that 

 stately parade, they meet ; the champions stand face to 

 face — intent on mortal combat. One almost fancies one 

 can hear the rustle as they shake out their wings and set 

 every feather on end — each striving to daunt and demor- 

 alize his opponent by a display of apparent bulk. But the 

 issue is disappointing ; only on three or four occasions 

 have we seen battle actually joined, and then the scuffle 

 only lasted a few seconds. 



It is, nevertheless, a magnificent spectacle to watch, 

 perhaps, ten or a dozen of these huge game-birds, all 

 " showing off " under the early rays of an April sun, and 

 set off amidst the green corn and flower-spangled herbage 

 — each as he slowly struts round, "echando la rueda," 

 displaying alternately the swollen gorget and yellow-barred 

 back, then the white underparts. 



This state of affairs continues during March and into 

 April ; rehearsals, but no actions — at least we have seen 

 none. The males really appear to show off rather one 

 to another than to the females, which, though not far off, 

 exhibit no more visible interest or concern than does our 

 grey hen under similar circumstances. About the 20th of 

 April the hen lays her two big greenish eggs amidst the 

 growing corn, and disappears ; but even this circumstance 

 has no appreciable effect upon the other sex, who continue 

 for weeks their complacent performances in spite of the 

 fact that the females — for whose behoof these displays 

 were presumably inaugurated — are no longer present to 

 admire, as they have now commenced the duties of incu- 

 bation. 



During the earlier period of this courtship, and at the 



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