BUSTARDS. 
Ill 
thickly strewed as to form a solid mass of “ two cubits 
from the face of the earth.” But Josephus, who must 
be allowed to he a better judge of the meaning of 
words in the Scripture than we can be, and more 
conversant with the subject on which he writes, 
explains the passage by saying that it merely meant, 
that the Quails flew within reach of the Israelites, 
about two cubits above the ground, which they, in 
fact, often do when exhausted, and are knocked down 
by the Arabs with sticks. 
The Quail is the smallest of the poultry tribe, but 
there is one more to be mentioned, forming the con- 
necting link between this and the last of the gallina- 
ceous order, by far the largest of the family. We mean 
the Bustard, of whose courage in attacking a man 
and horse we have already spoken *. The Bustard 
can fly; but its usual motion is on foot, running with 
such speed as often to rival a greyhound. Formerly 
they were common on our plains, and in the open 
country of England ; but as enclosures have taken 
place, they have gradually disappeared, and are now 
supposed to be, in this country, an extinct species. 
One great peculiarity deserves mentioning, namely, 
a singular pouch, which they have large enough to 
hold upwards of a quart of water. Its use has not 
been ascertained; by many it was supposed to be a 
provision of nature, for supplying them with water, 
living as they did in vast plains, where water was not 
common; but as it is confined to the male, this sup- 
position seems to be erroneous, unless, when the 
female is confined to her nest, her mate provides her 
with water from this reservoir. 
* Page 94. 
