INDIAN BUSTARD. 
This bird is the Otis Bens:alensis of Gme- 
lin ; the Churge, or Middle Indian Bustard, of 
BiifFon; the Pluvlalis Bengalensls Major, or 
Great Bengal Plover, of Brisson ; and the In- 
dian Bustard, of Edwards, Latham, and other 
naturalists. Edwards, \vho published in 175 1-, 
mentions that, he believes, we have hitherto 
no account of this bird, though it seems to 
be among the first which would attra6l the 
notice of a curious observer. Notwithstanding 
which hint, and our frequent intercourse with 
Jt^'s native country, there does not appear to 
have been any additional information obtained 
respedling it ; the most distinguished natura- 
lists seeming, in general, to have relied wholly 
on what is advanced by Edwards. 
Brisson, indeed, has been tempted to class it 
with the Plovers* But it is, as Buffon has de- 
monstrated, very insufficient for this purpose, 
to assert that the distinguishing chara6ter be- 
tween the Plovers, and the Bustards, consists 
ill 
