Family OTIDID^. Genus Otis. 



LITTLE BUSTARD. 



OTIS TKTRhX—Linnaus. 



Geographical Distribution. — British: An accidental visitor 

 to the British Islands, at no period known to have bred within 

 them. Has most frequently been captured in the eastern and 

 southern counties, especially in Yorkshire, Norfolk, and Corn- 

 wall. Four examples have been obtained on the east coast of 

 Scotland, and three in Ireland. Foreign: West Palsearctic region. 

 To Germany, Denmark, and South Scandinavia, and the country 

 north of the valley of the Danube, the Little Bustard is only an 

 accidental straggler. It breeds in suitable districts in Spain, 

 Portugal, and France, and is common on the steppes of the 

 Danube, Turkey, and Southern Russia. It passes through Italy 

 and Greece on migration, but is resident in Sardinia and Sicily. 

 It breeds in North-west Africa, and winters in the Sahara. It 

 breeds in Russia, and West Siberia as far north as lat. 55°, and 

 eastwards as far as Lake Saisan. It is a winter visitor to Egypt, 

 occurs in Palestine and Asia Minor, and is a summer resident in 

 North Persia and Russian Turkestan, wintering in the valley of 

 the Indus. 



Allied Forms. — None of sufficient propinquity to merit 

 allusion. 



Time during which the Little Bustard may be taken.— 



August ist to March ist ; otherwise by authority of owner or 

 occupier of land. 



Habits. — Many Little Bustards winter in the Mediterranean 

 district, but the greater number retire to Africa for the cold 

 season. Vast flocks of these birds return north to their breeding 

 grounds in Europe during April, the southern flight being made 



