RUFFED BUSTARD. 



Otis Houbara, Linn. 

 L'Outarde Houbara. 



Although the present beautiful species of Bustard has been occasionally killed in Spain and other parts of 

 Europe, its native habitat is undoubtedly Arabia and Northern Africa, where extensive sandy deserts afford it 

 a situation congenial to its natural habits. Dr. Latham, in his " General History of Birds," informs us, that 

 according to Bechstein the Houbara has been killed in Siberia ; but we have now some reason to doubt this 

 conclusion, as J. E. Gray, Esq., of the British Museum, has lately made known a species of Bustard from the 

 elevated range of the Himalaya which extends itself into Siberia, and we therefore suspect Bechstein has con- 

 founded this bird with the Otis Houbara, as it is characterized by the same singular kind of ruff and general 

 style of colouring ; although it may be distinguished from it by its inferiority in size and other minor particu- 

 lars. To his bird Mr. Gray has given the specific name of Macqueenii ; and the circumstance of its discovery 

 is the more interesting, as we have now two species of Bustards exhibiting this singular disposition of plumage, 

 which at once distinguishes them from the other birds of that family. 



Athough so rarely met with in Europe, the Houbara abounds in Africa, where it is much prized for the 

 excellence of its flesh, which is considered one of the greatest delicacies, and is said to be of exquisite flavour. 



The history of this bird is at present but imperfectly known, European naturalists being unacquainted with 

 its eggs or nidification : nor have the characters of the female been yet observed ; so that we are unable to say 

 whether or not she possesses that ornamental plumage which graces the male ; most probably if the feathers 

 of the ruff exist at all, they are much less perfectly developed ; and indeed, as it regards the male, we have yet 

 to learn whether he does more than possess these long feathers during the breeding season, and lose them 

 subsequently, a change analogous to that which we know so frequently occurs in others of the feathered race. 



The beak is lengthened and depressed at its base, and, together with the feet, is of an olive colour. The head 

 is surmounted by a crest of long and slender filamentous feathers of a pure white; the top of the head, the cheeks, 

 occiput, back, and forepart of the neck grey, with minute zigzag bars and spots of brown ; from the sides of 

 the neck spring two large tufts of flowing feathers, gradually increasing in length to the extent of seven or 

 eight inches ; the upper portion of which is black, the remainder white ; the whole of the upper surface is 

 light tawny, each feather being irregularly marked with transverse zigzag bars of brown ; the primaries dark 

 brown at the tip, and white at their base ; the tail-feathers besides being spotted are ornamented with three 

 bands of blueish grey ; the breast and under parts pure white. Total length from twenty-five to twenty-eight 

 inches. 



Our figure is that of an adult bird, two thirds of its natural size. 



