10 BIRDS OF THE WORLD 



The Great Bustard is known as the largest of Euro- 

 pean birds, male individuals often weighing as much 

 as thirty pounds. It is now extinct in Great Britain, 

 although at one time common there, but is still found 

 on the Continent. The enclosures of waste land, 

 planting of trees, and increase of population have 

 driven it from many of its former breeding places. 

 The males are much larger than the females and more 

 brightly coloured; both sexes have long hair-like 

 feathers back of the ears. During the breeding season 

 the males go through with strange performances. 

 The tail is thrown up over the back, showing the pure 

 white under-tail coverts, the wings are drooped, and 

 the bag, or pouch, which runs down the front of the 

 neck, is inflated until it reaches enormous proportions, 

 while the head is sunken between the shoulders, with 

 the long ear-feathers standing up at the sides. See 

 Plate 30, Fig. 169. 



Bustards are confined exclusively to the Old World, 

 most of the species being found in Africa. 



