﻿8oo BUSTARD. 



The bird dcfcribed in the Br. Zool. feems to differ a little, as 

 the bread and outer tail feathers are plain white. 

 Place and This-bird is found in many parts of Europe, but has been only 



met with three or four times in England, and all the fpecimens 

 females ; though this may be well accounted for, as there are mofl 

 of that fex, it being polygamous *. The males are faid to fight 

 with each other vigoroufly, and each to keep mafter of a certain 

 diftri£b. It is frequent in France; and is alfo feen in other parts, 

 though more rare, Linnaeus mentions it in his Swedijh Cata- 

 logue f i but fays it is not common. 

 Female. The female lays her eggs in June, from three to five in number, 



of a gloffy green colour : the young follow her as foon as 

 hatched, like chickens, and fquat on the leaft noife. They are 

 able to fly by the middle of Attgujl. 



This is a fhy fpecies, like the former, and crafty : if diflurbed, 

 will fly for two or three hundred paces, not far from the ground, 

 and then run fafter than a man can follow on foot \. Said to 

 feed on all forts of grain, ants, beetles, and green corn. It is fre- 

 quently taken in France in nets, like the Partridge, as well as by 

 hawking. The flefli is blackilh in colour, yet is much efteemed, 

 being of a very high flavour. The eggs are alfo accounted a 

 delicacy. 



* One male f^incient for many females . — Salerne. 



t This is denied in Hiji. da oif. — Bujfon mould have read the laft edition of 

 the Faun. Suec. as well as the firft. 



t From this cunning, a proverb has arifen in France, that fuch a man '■' plays 

 " the Land Duck." 



Otis 



