Crass I. GREAT BUSTARD. 
the crown of the head is of a deep orange, traverfed 
with black lines; the reft of the head is brown. 
The lower part of the fore-fide of the neck is afh- 
colored: in other refpects it refembles the male, 
only the colors of the back and wings are far more 
dull. 
Thefe birds inhabit moft of the open countries 
of the fouth and eaft parts of this ifland, from Dor- 
fetfoire, as far as the Wolds in Yorkfhire*. They 
are exceeding fhy, and difficult to be fhot; run 
very faft, and when on the wing can fly, though 
flowly, many miles without refting. It is faid that 
they take flight with difficulty, and are fometimes 
run down with grehounds. They keep near their 
old haunts, feldom wandering above twenty or 
thirty miles. Their food is corn and other vege- 
tables, and thofe large earth worms that appear in 
great quantities on the Dowus, before fun-rifing in 
the fummer. Thefe are replete with moifture, an- 
{wer the purpofe of liquids, and enable them to live 
long without drinking on thofe extenfive and dry 
tracts. Befides this, nature hath given the males 
an admirable magazine for their fecurity againft 
drought, being a pouch+, whofe entrance lies im- 
mediately under the tongue, and which is capable 
* In Sir Robert Sibbald’s time they were found in the Mers, 
but I believe that they are now’extinét in Scotland. 
+ The world is obliged to the late Dr. Douglas for this 
adifcovery ; and to Mr. Edwards for communicating it, 
U3 of 
286 
PLAceE. 
