GREAT BUSTARD. 



445 



made use of this appendage, by squirting the water 

 that is contained therein with violence against 

 the assailant, who is often baffled in the pursuit. 



Bustards appear to be natives of the greater part 

 of Europe, but are not of equal frequency in all 

 parts, particularly in well inhabited countries, as 

 they from timidity avoid all commerce with man- 

 kind, and the most paltry dog will drive whole 

 lierds of them away. In England they used to be 

 met with in flocks of fifty or more, frequenting 

 the open countries of the south and east parts, 

 from Dorsetshire as far as the wolds in Yorkshire, 

 but now they have become extremely scarce, the 

 plains of Wiltshire furtiishing the greater portion ^ 

 but they are in danger of total extirpation, as half 

 a guinea is given in that part for the egg, and ten 

 or twelve guineas for a pair of the birds ; in con- 

 sequence the former is sought after for the pur- 

 pose of hatching under common poultry, and the 

 latter are often taken by the shepherds' dogs 

 before they can fly. 



These birds pair early in the spring : the female 

 lays two eggs, in a hole formed by her feet on the 

 bare ground ; they are about one month hatching, 

 and are the size of those of a Goose, of an olive- 

 brown colour, marked with spots of a deeper hue. 

 If, during her absence from the nest, any one 

 handles or even breathes upon the eggs, she imme- 

 diately abandons them. The young ones follow 

 the dam soon after they are excluded from the egg^ 

 but are not capable of flying for some time. 



The food of these birds consists of green corn. 



