IP Ij ^ T IE 



XLY. 



FAMILY OTIDIML 



*N spite of the fact that Australia is singularly adapted to suit the habits of the Bastard family, 

 - only one species is known to exist there. 



GENUS CHORIOTIS (Bonaparte.) 



rjlHIS and C. Edwardsi, of the plains of Upper India, are beautiful representatives of each other. 



CHORIOTIS AUSTRALIS (Bonaparte). 



AUSTRALIAN BUSTARD. Genus: Choriotis. 



rpHIS is a very handsome bird both in shape and plumage, and is larger than the European 

 -L Bustard, the male weighing from thirteen to sixteen pounds. The female is altogether smaller, 

 and less beautifully plumaged, and, therefore, not so stately in appearance. When seen slowly stalking 

 over the plains, no Australian bird except the Emu can compare with it for stateliness or independence 

 of carriage. 



Gould was of opinion that the Australian Bustard was only a summer visitant to the southern 

 parts of Australia ; whether he is right or no remains to be proved. Should such be the case, it is 

 of migratory character, but impartial in its location, for its distribution is universal. 



The flesh is so delicate and highly-flavoured that the poor bird has a sorry time of it, and 

 recedes from the abodes of civilisation year by year, as its persecutions increase. 



Its food consists of seeds, grasses, and insectivora. If surprised in a tussock of grass, it will 

 lie crouching close to the ground till a favourable opportunity offers, when it will fly swiftly along the 

 ground to a place of greater safety. 



Incubation takes place in the latter part of September ; the nest is either a very rudimentary 

 structure of grasses, or else a clear spot is chosen in a. gully, or on the side of a grassy hill, and 

 the eggs are laid on the bare ground. They are of an olive colour, stained with longitudinal dashes 

 of brown. Measurements, 3-g- inches by 2^ inches. 



Forehead and head, black ; lores, chin, and line above the eye, buff, finely striated with 

 black ; neck, throat, and upper part of chest, delicate grey, finely freckled with brown, ending on the 

 chest with an irregular black line, the whole of the upper surface beautifully marked with fine, 

 seaweed-like freeklings, varying in shade from a ferruginous tint to grey ; the edge of the wings 

 largely blotched with brown, then white and grey; primaries, brown; under surfaces, creamy-white as 

 far as the abdomen, where there are alternate feathers of brown and creamy-white, freckled and 

 fringed ; tail, grey, crossed near the centre by an interrupted band of white, finely freckled with 

 white, margined with brown, and slightly tipped with white ; under-tail coverts, greyish-black, tipped 

 with white : irides, greenish-white ; bill, horn-colour at base, black at tip of upper mandible ; legs and 

 feet, straw-colour. 



Total length, 40 inches. 



Habitats : The whole of Australia, except Derby (N.W.A.) and Tasmania. 



