difficult of approach, and although a shot or two may 

 occasionally be obtained by "driving," as a rule the 

 birds mount high in the air on rising, and generally 

 pass over the concealed gunners far out of shot-range. 

 On the other hand, during the breeding-season, although 

 the Little Bustard will run at great speed in good covert 

 before an enemy, we had little difficulty in procuring as 

 many specimens as we required by advancing in line to 

 the spot from which we had seen one of the male birds 

 jump, or heard his call, and in the great heats of August 

 and September these birds lie very close in any available 

 shade of grass or weeds. When the bird is alone, or 

 only in company of a mate, I have found that a close 

 approach on horseback is often feasible, especially if 

 accompanied by the tinkle of a cattle-bell attached to 

 the neck of the quadruped. 



The flesh of this bird is, in my opinion, of excellent 

 quality, and is frequently served up in Spanish inns 

 under the name of "Faisan " (Pheasant), to which it has 

 no likeness, either in taste or colour. In the Regency 

 of Tunis, where I met with the Little Bustard in great 

 numbers in November and December, and also in 

 Algeria, it is known to the European inhabitants as 

 " Poule de Carthage." 



The flight of this bird is exceedingly rapid and easy, 

 and the action of the wings produces a loud whistling 

 sound, from which the Spanish name of " Sison " is 

 derived. The few nests that I have seen were composed 

 of dried straws and grass-stems in a shallow scratching, 

 amongst growing corn or in thick covert of natural vege- 

 tation. The eggs are three or four in number, of a dark 



