THE OTIS. 91 



Seemingly a sort of bustard. 



teen pounds and a half. The head, which is but 

 indifferently shaped, is of an ash-colour, as is 

 likewise the neck down to the breast. It has a 

 strong bill, and a serated or a saw-like tongue, 

 sharp on both sides, and hard towards the end ; 

 with so wide an ear, or auditory duct, that the 

 end of a finger may be introduced. And upon 

 examining under the feathers, two cavities will 

 appear, one towards the bill, and the other lead- 

 ing directly to the brain. It has a plump round 

 breast, is covered with white feathers on the 

 belly, and to the middle of the thighs, and has 

 a great many dark brown and blackish spots on 

 the back. The larger feathers in the wings are 

 white, but black towards the end, and at the 

 roots red. Those of the tail are of a dark red, 

 and adorned with a great many fine streaks and 

 black spots on the outside, and on the inside 

 with red. The legs are a foot in length, pretty 

 thick and scaly. 



This seems to be a sort of bustard, such as are 

 found upon the hills, and in the woods in the 

 northern parts of Germany. The flesh is said to 

 resemble that of the pheasant, and was so accep- 

 table to the Emperor Caligula, that, as Sueto^ 

 nius relates, he would have had it offered in 

 sacrifice in his temple. 



