THE GREAT BUSTARD 



central Germany to Spain, and ranges eastwards to Central Asia ; it also visits 

 North Africa, but rarely North-west India. 



The two to three eggs, of a dull olive colour blotched with deep brown, are 

 laid in a hollow in the soil scratched out by the parent bird. 



The food consists of various greenstuffs, such as clover leaves and the blades 

 of young corn, besides insects, worms, mice, and reptiles. 



The striking attitudes assumed by the males in spring when courting are shown 

 in the picture. 



Lord Lilford, describing their habits at this time of the year on the great plains 

 and marshes of the " marisma " in Spain, says {Birds of Northamptonshire and 

 Neighbotirhood) : " Here these splendid birds may be observed in all their glory 

 of perfect nuptial plumage and conscious strength and beauty, stalking about with 

 a stately and deliberate gait, the body always carried horizontally, and occasionally 

 showing off, apparently from pure ' pride of life,' in the Turkey-cock fashion above 

 described. Towards evening, and in the early morning, they go off to feed in some 

 favourite ' querencia,' a Spanish word difficult to translate briefly, but implying a 

 haunt which supplies a want, generally a piece of land sown with chick-peas, clover, 

 or vetches ; but they seem always to return to the marshes for the night, and, I 

 believe, spend the dark hours in the same formation as that of a covey of Grey 

 Partridges, viz. squatting on the ground in a closely-packed circle, with their 

 heads outwards." 



END OF VOL. III. 



Printed by Ballantyne, Hanson Co. 

 at Paul's Work, Edinburgh 



