GREAT BUSTARD. 
285 
FA SORES. 
S TR UTHIONIDjE. 
GREAT BUSTARD. 
Otis tarda. 
PLATE LXXIII. FIG. I. 
This fine bird, which the gun or the spread of cultiva¬ 
tion has either destroyed or driven from our shores, will- 
soon be remembered only as once having existed in our 
land, gladdening with its presence the open wolds and 
downs of our country, and adding an interest to the 
bleak and sterile heath. The Bustard has existed, till 
within a few years, on those extensive sheep-walks, the 
wolds of Yorkshire, from whence I have seen their eggs, 
and in the earlier time of Montagu was to be met with on 
the plains of Salisbury. Mr. Spurgeon, of Lynn, to whom 
I was indebted for an English specimen of the egg of 
this bird, figured in the “British Oology/' gave me the 
following information, during the publication of that work. 
He says, “ I am much afraid that all the male birds are 
extinct in this kingdom, and, therefore a few years will 
end the species altogether. I have seen from fourteen to 
eighteen females in the various large fields in the west of 
Norfolk, called breaks; they are wild, and difficult to ap¬ 
proach.” The Bustard makes no nest, but lays its eggs, 
two in number, upon the bare ground. The egg which 
I have now figured is in the collection of Mr. Salmon, 
© 
and was laid in this country. 
