116 
GREAT BUSTARD. 
relates, that he saw two birds in the parish of 
Carmyllie, Forfarshire, “ which I have no doubt, in 
my own mind, were bustards.”* They were, how- 
ever, seen early in the morning, at the distance of a 
quarter of a mile, and objects seen “against the 
sky,” at an early hour, oftentimes “ seem forms of 
giants’ height.” In Ireland, Mr. Thompson states 
it as “ extinct long since,” but it is enumerated in 
1749, by Smith, as one of the birds of Cork. On 
various parts of the continent they appear still to be 
far from unfrequent. During winter and spring, we 
have often seen specimens for sale in the poulterers’ 
shops in the Palais Royal, for which from fifty to one 
hundred franks were asked. Spain, Italy, and the 
plains of Greece are its southern range; Sweden, f 
Russia, Tartary, and Lake Baikal J is its northern 
extent. 
The Bustard is recorded to have been run with 
greyhounds, and to be an object of chase ; and in- 
stances where specimens have been taken in this 
way are mentioned, one or two of not very ancient 
date. The bird is heavy, and does not readily take 
wing, but is described, at the same time, to be of 
very powerful flight ; and it has always appeared to 
us, that those taken in this way must have been 
under particular circumstances, either of moult or 
fatigue. The rifle is also sometimes used ; but, so 
far as we can learn, the ordinary fowling piece is by 
far the most fatal weapon employed against them. 
The male Bustard will stand two feet six or 
* I. p. 53. + Nilson. + Pennant. 
