382 



GEA.LLATOBES, OE WADING BIEDS. 



of absolute necessity. Its eggs, two or three in 

 number, are laid in the corn or grass ; the nest is nothing more 



except in cases 



FiiT. 152.— Little liustard [Otis tctrax, Gould). 



than a hole scratched out in the earth, and vrith scarcely any 

 lining on the inside. 



The Great Bustard was formerly very common in Champagne, 

 but has now become extremely rare. IS'evertheless, it is the 

 only province in France in which this bird is to be met with, 

 and we might almost say that it has completely disappeared from 

 French soil. Innumerable troops of them are to be seen in the 

 steppes of Tartary and Southern Russia. 



Bretipennes (iShort-wtnged BlKDs). 



The birds belonging to this familj' arc distinguished from the 

 ix-st of the Gralke by such decisive chaiacteristics that some 

 nuturalist.s have proposed to include them in a separate group, to 

 be called Cur sores, or Runners ; an arrangement which has much 

 in its favour, although the simpler arrangement of Cuvier best 

 suits our purpose. In certain anatomical points, and especially 



