369 



OTIS TAEDA. 



(GREAT BUSTARD.) 



Otis tarda, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 264 (1766). 

 Otis major, Brehm, Vog. Deu'tschl. p. 531 (1831). 



Outarde barbue, French ; Grosstrappe, German ; Abutarda, Spanish ; Batarda, Portuguese ; 



Pittarrun, Maltese ; Trappe, Trapgaas, Danish ; Stora Trappen, Swedish ; Dropha, 



Doodok, Russian. 



Figures notabiles. 

 D'Aubenton, PI. Enl. pi. 245 ; Werner, Atlas, Coureurs, pi. i. ; Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 267 ; 



B. of G. Brit, part ii. ; Naumann, Vog. Deutschl. pis. 167 ( S ), 168 ( 2 et pull.) ; Sundevall, 



Sv. Fogl. taf. xlvi. figs. 1, 2 ; Kjaerbolling, Dan. Fugle, pis. xxviii., xxix. ; Fritsch, Vog. 



Eur. tab. 36. fig. 5. 



d ad. supra laete lutescenti-rufus, conspicue nigro vermiculatim transfasciatus : tectricibus alarum carpalibus 

 dorso concoloribus, reliquis dilutissime cinereis late albo terminates : remigibus brunneis, extus cineras- 

 cente lavatis, secundariis extimis ad basin albis, interioribus omninb albis, intimis dorso concoloribus 

 latius nigro transfasciatis : cauda rufa, albo terminate et subterminaliter nigro transfasciata, rectricibus 

 omnibus basaliter albis, extimis autem fere omnino albis, versus apicem tantiim rufescentibus : pileo 

 summo et laterali cum nucha dilute cinereis : collo laterali, cum setis mystacalibus longissimis 

 guttureque toto albescentibus, hoc imo ochrascente lavato : torque collari et collo postico saturatius 

 ferrugineis, minute nigro maculatis : torque angusto pectorali dilute cinereo : corpore reliquo subtus 

 albo : rostro plumbescenti-griseo : pedibus grisescenti-brunneis : iride brunnea. 



2 mari similis, sed multo minor et supra intense nigro transfasciata, tectricibus alarum carpalibus pallidioribus 

 et crebrius nigro fasciatis : pileo toto cum gutture et pectore superiore dilute cinereis, gula alba, : pectore 

 nunquam rufescente. 



Adult Male. Head pale ashy blue or French-grey ; back of the neck rich rufous or yellowish red, almost 

 unmarked ; back, scapulars, and lesser -wing-coverts yellowish red, banded with black, these bands being 

 largest and most distinct on the apical portion of the scapulars ; upper tail-coverts same as the back, 

 but with narrower black bands : tail reddish, greyish white at the base and at the tip, and having a 

 broad subterminal black band, the central feathers also having another band about the middle of the 

 feather ; quills blackish, slightly washed . with grey on the outer web, and having the shafts white ; 

 secondaries white at the base of the outer web, the inner web being almost entirely white ; inner 

 secondaries pure white ; larger median-coverts and spurious wing greyish white ; throat and fore part 

 of the neck greyish white ; from the base of the mandible on each side springs a bunch of long bristle- 

 like feathers ; lower part of the neck and fore part of the breast reddish chestnut, marked with black, 

 on the upper part fading into yellowish red, forming a distinct pectoral band ; below this is a band of 

 pale French-grey ; rest of the underparts pure white ; bill dull lead-grey, darkening into blackish horn 

 towards the tip; legs dirty earth-grey; iris dark brown. Total length 42 inches, culmen 2"5, wing 26, 

 tail 11, tarsus 6 - 2. 



3h 



