352 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



resembles the former bird in every respect except the position of the 

 markings on its plumage. 



The Pluvian may be considered as belonging to the Plovers, as 

 the difference between them is insignificant. We wish to mention it 

 on account of its curious habits, to which we previously called atten- 

 tion when speaking of Reptiles. This Bird is a native of Egypt and 

 Senegal, and is on the most friendly terms with the 'Crocodiles, a 

 circumstance deserving to force itself on the meditations of philoso- 

 phers. The Pluvian does the Crocodile the service of picking his 

 teeth. This assistance rendered by the little bird to the terrible reptile 

 of the Nile is, to say the least interesting, and has somewhat the 

 appearance of having inspired La Fontaine with his fable of the 

 " Lion and the Mouse." 



The Bustards (Otis) are allied to the Gallinacece by their short 

 back, their thickset shape, and the general character of their habits ; 

 but their elongated tarsi, and their legs partly bare, give them a 

 position among the Grallce. They have short front toes, and no 

 back ones ; they run with extreme rapidity, assisted by their wings. 

 Their flight is heavy and awkward. They frequent dry and open 

 plains, and make their nests on the ground. Their food consists 

 of worms, insects, grasses, and even seeds; and they move about in 

 large flocks. The male birds being less numerous than the females, 

 they are generally polygamous. These birds are shy and timid, and 

 their flesh constitutes an excellent article of food. 



There are three species of the Bustard — the Great Bustard, the 

 Little Bustard, and the Houbara Bustard. 



The Great Bustard (Otis tarda) is the largest of all European birds; 

 its weight sometimes attains to thirty-six pounds. It is yellow on 

 the back, with black streaks, and in front it is a greyish white. The 

 head of the male is ornamented on both sides with curled feathers, 

 which look something like moustaches, and have obtained for it the 

 name of the Bearded Bustard. It flies with great difficulty, and is 

 reluctant to take wing except in cases of absolute necessity. Its eggs, 

 two or three in number, are laid in the corn or grass ; the nest is 

 nothing more than a hole scratched out in the earth, and with scarcely 

 any lining. 



The Great Bustard was formerly very common in Champagne, 

 which is now the only province in France in which this bird is to be 

 met, in fact it is now so scarce that we might almost say that it has 

 completely disappeared from French soil. Innumerable troops of 

 them are to be seen in the steppes of Tartary and Southern Russia. 



The Little Bustard (Otis tet?'ax, Fig. 143) is about the size of the 



