BUSTARD. 



63 



of the head brown ; lower part of the neck before ash-coloured, in other 

 respects like the male, except in not having the long- tuft of feathers 

 growing- from each side of the lower mandible, so conspicuous in that 

 sex when arrived at maturity. 



The male has also a very capacious pouch, situated along the fore 

 part of the neck, the entrance of which is under the tongue, capable of 

 holding several quarts of water ; it is said not less than seven. The 

 size, however, of this pouch, or bag, seems to be somewhat exag- 

 gerated, for we think it impossible the bird could fly with such an 

 addition of weight before its wings, which would throw it out of the 

 centre of gravity. We see the heron, and many other birds, obliged 

 to extend their legs behind, and contract their necks when flying, in 

 order to balance themselves on the wing. Seve"n quarts of water are 

 nearly equal to fourteen pounds weight, and certainly more than the 

 bird could carry in that situation. The pouch, however, is large, as 

 may be seen in the Leverian Museum. This, however, is only dis- 

 coverable in adults, as it is most likely intended for the purpose of 

 furnishing the female and young, in the breeding season, with water, 

 which, in general, is only to be procured at a distance, upon the dry 

 and extended downs they inhabit. 



The Bustard is only found upon the large extensive plains, and is 

 almost extinct, except upon those of Wiltshire, where it is become 

 very scarce within these few years. It is an extremely shy bird, and 

 difficult to be shot. Young ones have frequently been taken by the 

 shepherds' dogs before they are capable of flight ; and their eggs are 

 eagerly sought after for the purpose of hatching under hens. Half-a- 

 guinea is no unusual price for an egg, and ten or twelve guineas a pair 

 for young birds not full grown. A person at Tilshead, contiguous to 

 the downs in Wiltshire, has reared a great many in this way ; and the 

 consequence will be a total extinction in a few years. 



In 1813 we were informed by the shepherds that they had not been 

 seen for the last two or three years in their favourite haunts, on the 

 Wiltshire downs, where we have often contemplated this noble bird with 

 pleasure, regarding them as an object well worthy of every attempt to 

 cultivate in their native plains, since every attempt to domesticate them 

 had proved abortive. In a state of domestication the length of their 

 days is so reduced, that it seldom exceeds two or three years, and they 

 never have shewn any inclination to breed. * Selby informs us that his 

 enquiries lead him to the conclusion that the breed is now entirely 

 extinct. In 1804 one was shot and taken to Plymouth market, where 



