102 LITTLE BUSTARD. 



In Scotland one only has occurred; it was killed near Montrose, in December, 1833. 



In Ireland a pair were seen in the county of Wicklow on the 23rd. of August, 1833, 

 one of which was shot. 



Abroad it is distributed over various countries. In Germany it is said to be rare. 

 It occurs in Greece, Southern France, Italy, Provence, the southern parts of Russia, Sar- 

 dinia, Spain, Sweden very rarely, and in Turkey. It is also found in Tartary, and in 

 the north of Africa. 



As a bird for the table, the Little Bustard is said to be superior to almost any of 

 our game birds. 



In its habits it would appear to resemble the Great Bustard generally. It frequents 

 open champaign country, and seems to be as independent of water as its congener. It 

 avoids mountains and woods; and shelters itself from observation in fields of grain, tur- 

 nips, or the like. It flies well and strongly, and with considerable swiftness; and, if 

 disturbed, takes wing readily, skimming over the surface of the ground for a short distance, 

 when it alights; and instead of remaining where it pitches, it instantly runs off in a 

 straight line to a considerable distance with great rapidity, and by this means puzzles its 

 pursuer, who probably expected to flush it again near to where it alighted : a knowledge 

 of this habit is indispensably necessary to insure success in the pursuit of this bird. In 

 its mode of running, and general appearance, it resembles the Great Bustard. 



The Little Bustard is said to be polygamous. 



With respect to the note, Meyer says that of the male bird resembles "the syllable 

 'proot, proot,' which is more frequently uttered during the night; the nestlings and young 

 chirp like chickens." 



The food of the Little Bustard, during the winter, when, as before observed, they 

 usually occur in England, consists of vegetable substances. The stomach of one, killed 

 February 1st., 1823, near Twizell, in Northumberland, and examined by Mr. Selby, con- 

 tained a quantity of stems of clover and grasses, with numerous seeds of the cow-parsnip, 

 (Reracleum Sphondylium,) and of other umbelliferous plants. No stones or gravel were 

 found in the stomach. It is also known to feed upon grain, cabbages, turnips, young 

 corn, and other succulent herbs; also, during summer, very largely, if not chiefly, upon 

 insects, worms, caterpillars, ants, and grasshoppers. The stomach of one, killed in January, 

 1823, was found by Mr. Yarrell to contain parts of the leaves of the white turnip, 

 lungwort, (Pulmonaria officinalis,) dandelion, (Leontodon taraxacum.,) and a few blades 

 of grass. 



No nest is made, but the eggs are deposited in a hollow upon the bare ground, gen- 

 erally under some plant or herb, which will sufficiently hide the old bird and eggs from 

 casual observation. The eggs vary in number from three to five, and are generally of 

 a uniform brown olive colour; but Yarrell states that he has seen them slightly clouded 



