367 



Order IV. LIMICOL^. 



Family QTIDffi. 



Genus OTIS. 



Otis, Linnseus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 264 (1766). 



Psophia apud Jacquin, Beitr. Gesch. Vog. p. 24 (1784). 



Tetrax apud Leach, Syst. Cat. M. & B. Brit. Mus. p. 28 (1816). 



Mix apud Werner, Atlas, Coureurs, pi. 4. 



Honiara apud Bonaparte, Sagg. Distrib. metod. Anim. Verteb. ed. 2, Agg. e Corr. p. 142 



(1832). 

 Chlamydotis apud Lesson, Bev. Zool. 1839, p. 47. 

 Eupodotis apud G. B. Gray, Gen. of B. iii. p. 533 (1845). 



The Bustards must, I think, be placed near to the Plovers, though they have some affinity 

 to the Gallinse, and have, indeed, been included in that group by some authors. The genus is 

 represented in the Palsearctic, Ethiopian, Indian, and Australian Regions, four species being 

 found in the Western Paleearctic Begion, two being resident and the other two mere stragglers 

 from Asia and Africa. A fifth species, Otis avals, L., has straggled into the extreme south- 

 western portion of the Western Palsearctic Begion ; but as it is essentially an Ethiopian species, 

 1 have not deemed it advisable to include it. 



The Bustards frequent open ground, preferring grassy plains and cultivated ground, and 

 avoiding localities which are studded with bushes, which would prevent them from having a 

 clear view of the surrounding country. They are very wary and difficult of approach; and it is 

 therefore no easy matter to stalk them. They walk and run with ease, and fly much faster than 

 one would suppose, j udging from their large size. They feed on the leaves and shoots of plants, 

 and to some extent also on insects. They are polygamous ; and in the spring the males fight 

 iuriously for the possession of the females, which remain with them only until they have to 

 commence nidification. Their nests are mere depressions in the ground, very scantily lined ; and 

 the eggs, which are numerous, are dull brownish olivaceous, or olive-green, more or less spotted 

 and blotched with dark brown. The female alone attends to the incubation of the eggs and the 

 care of the young, which when hatched are covered with soft down ; and though at first rather 

 helpless, they are soon able to run, and hide if suddenly disturbed and frightened. 



Otis tarda, the type of the genus, has the bill shorter than the head, rather stout, broader 

 than high at the base, compressed towards the end, which is narrowed but blunt; gape-line 

 slightly arched ; nasal sinus large, filled by a membrane which is feathered at the base ; nostrils 

 oblong, direct, slightly operculate, nearly basal ; wings long and full, the third quill longest, the 

 first being about equal to the fifth ; tail short, composed of twenty feathers; legs long, the tibia 

 bare for about one third of its length, covered with oblong scales, the tarsus being also similarly 

 scaled ; toes three in number, rather short, and having short basal webs ; claws short, curved, 

 thin-edged, obtuse. 



ISO 



