446 



ARABIAN BUSTARD, 



the tops of turnips, and various other vegetables, 

 as well as worms ; but they have been known also 

 to eat frogs, mice, and young birds of the smaller 

 kind, which they swallow whole : in the winter 

 they frequently feed on the bark of trees ; they 

 will also swallow any small substance presented to 

 them, somewhat like the Ostrich. The chase of 

 the Bustard is said to afford excellent diversion : 

 they are slow at taking flight, but run so fast that 

 nothing but greyhounds can overtake them. They 

 do not appear to be capable of domestication, as 

 many attempts have been made to rear them, but 

 th^y always perish in two or three years, and do 

 not shew any inclination to breed. 



The Bustard is migratory, though but little so 

 in this kingdom, where it is most abundant in 

 autumn, but in France it is likewise seen in the 

 spring : on all the south plains of Russia and the 

 deserts of Tartary it is likewise common, but does 

 aot appear to be found in any other part of Asia^ 

 ar at all in Africa* 



ARABIAN BUSTARD, 

 (Otis Arabs.) 



Ot. rtifescenSf nigricante striata, subtus alba, aurilus eredc- 

 ^ristatis.y Cauda fascia Juscd, 



