EASTERN BUSTARD. 
“ As regards the number of eggs laid by the Bustard, of twelve nests 
that I have found, five contained two eggs and seven one only ; it is 
possible that some of these single-egg nests were incomplete at the time, 
and that a second egg may have been subsequently added to some of 
them. Only in one instance do I know for a fact that the single egg was 
incubated. 
“ There is a big difference in the size and weight of the two sexes ; 
eleven bhds, not picked but taken as they came, averaged 15 lbs. 1 oz., seven 
males going from 11 J lbs. to 19 lbs., and averaging 16 J lbs. : and four females 
all apparently mature, weighed 8, VJ, 6| and 7 lbs. respectively, averaging 
7 lbs. I have measured two birds only . . . spread of the wings of the 
male 6 feet 8 inches, and the female 5 feet 4J inches. In the male the gular 
pouch was developed to its fullest extent.”* 
Captain Sturt said he had known this bird to weigh 28 lbs., and 
Macgillivray records one he killed as weighing 22J lbs. 
In the Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lend.) 1868, pi. xxxvi., Murie figures this bird 
“ displaying.” The tail is spread out over the back, the head is thrown up 
and the gular pouch puffed out, and the pendulous skin (covered with 
feathers) unfolded from the lower-neck and which almost touches the ground. 
“ The premonitory symptoms observable when the Bustard is about 
to exhibit himself in the pride of lust (for such it seems to me to be) is a 
slight swelling of the inframandibular portion of the throat, while the head 
is thrown upwards. Immediately afterwards the neck swells and the feathers 
of the lower parts concomitantly bulge out and descend gradually downwards 
in the form of a bag, oftentimes nearly reaching the ground. 
“ If the paroxysm is a strong one, then the tail is shot upwards and 
forwards over the back, the rectrices coming almost in contact with the neck. 
“ In this peculiar attitude, with bloated neck, hanging baggy chest, 
elevated tail, and stilt-like legs, the creature struts about in a somewhat 
waddling manner, the elongated pouch swaying to and fro. The feathers 
of the throat start out on end ; those of the depending sac are also raised, 
but less upright. While all this has taken place the bird seems to have 
gulped in the air, or rather with partly open gape, to have taken a long, deep 
and a forced inspiration. 
“ The acme of inspirating effort and strange attitude attained, the 
Bustard begins to snap the mandibles together in a loud manner and utter a 
series of cooing sounds for a short interval of time. Usually and more 
frequently he starts towards the female Bustards in a most dignified 
manner . . . 
* Bemey, Emu, Vol. VI., p. 109, 1907. 
VOL. m. 
365 
