Orel 
STKUTHIONES. 
Family  I.  Struthionid^, 
Tl 
® fourth  Subfamily, 
OT1DINJ5,  or  Tlu  vSTARDS, 
the  Bill  1 
^*^sal  '•lore  oi  less  lengthened  and  compressed  on  the  sides,  with  the  culmen  straight  above  the 
P^^ced  in  ^ j vaulted  to  the  tip,  which  is  strongly  emarginated ; the  nostrils  basal,  lateral,  and 
pointer^^  "membranous  groove,  with  the  opening  large  and  suboval ; the  Wings  moderate,  and 
Xoeg  ^ ^ moderate,  broad,  and  rounded ; the  Tarsi  long,  and  covered  with  small  scales ; 
ort,  and  covered  with  small  narrow  scales  above ; the  Claws  short,  broad,  and  blunt. 
Otis  Linn.* 
base  1 base,  and  compressed  on  the  sides,  with  the  culmen  elevated  and  straight  at 
^Ct!S0^  and  ^ rrxe-x.*  V CHjK^yj.  O-lIU  UU 
‘^foaigbt ; th  gi'"<Jually  curved  to  the  tip,  which  is  strongly  emarginated ; the  gonys  short  and 
and  Vi  placed  in  a large  nasal  groove,  partly  closed  by  a membrane,  with  the  opening 
the  terti  1 long,  with  the  second,  third,  and  fourth  quills  usually  equal  and  longest, 
^"iddle  toe  ^ foug  as  the  quills.  Tail  moderate,  broad,  and  rounded.  Tarsi  much  longer  than  the 
^"•3  all  the  f with  small  scales.  Toes  short,  broad,  with  the  inner  toe  shorter  than  the  outer, 
^^'mut.  oues  covered  above  with  narrow  transverse  scales ; the  claws  short,  very  broad,  and 
The  spegj 
at  They  are^  found  on  the  dry  sandy  or  grassy  plains,  and  the  open  cultivated  lands,  of  Europe 
^ 8^eat  distance'  f^  ; when  alarmed,  they  usually  escape  by  flight,  which  is  strong,  swift,  and  generally 
n V - - --p  — — — j J »f  XiAV/AX  Xkj  Kj  x/x  v.r  xxg^y  kJTTXXt’^  t/VxXvt.  g^XxV^A  CvXX  y 
tbg  "'‘“Ole  speed  surface  of  the  ground,  sometimes  alighting  after  a slmrt  interval,  and  running  oflf  with 
by  at  a sufficient  distance  to  elude  pursuit.  The  female  and  young  generally  conceal 
^'ictiyo  i close 
™the 
. 'Vorj 
ft 
among  the  tufts  of  grass  or  brushwood.  Tliey  feed  on  grain  and  seeds,  and  are  very 
^ s^lso  fn5  V'heat  and  the  tops  of  turnips ; the  latter  they  principally  attack  during  the  winter.  Insects 
Sooj^  five  eg  ^ P®mtion  of  their  subsistence ; and  sometimes  they  swallow  small  quadrupeds.  The  females  lay 
ground  under  cover  of  herbage,  or  among  the  wheat  or  clover.  The  young, 
’ mUOW  thpiv  • 7 1 P .1.  7 . n 
'v  their  parent,  but  are  incajrable  of  flight  for  a long  time. 
as 
turoa. 
Linu, 
'“"b  245.,  Gould,  B.  of  Eur.  pi. 
21)7.  I 2.  O.  tetrax  Linn.  PI.  enl.  10.  25.,  Gould,  B.  of  Eur.  pi.  26'9.  • 
I Type  of  Tetrax  Leach  (1816). 
* Li 
'"»»us  established  tin's 
getiu.s  in  ly.^.'l  (Stjstemn  Nij.tiirce'}.  It  embraces  Tetrax  of  Leach  (18l6). 
