768 
BIRD-LIFE. 
act is accomplished the mother takes them farther afield, 
and leads them to rich pasture lands. 
Young Bustards may be reared and tamed without 
much trouble. I had one in Khartoum (Otis arabs), which 
was fed with meat, and soon became very docile and 
confiding. It would come to me as soon as it saw me, 
uttering a low cry denoting its delight, and follow me 
like a dog all over the house : unfortunately it did not 
live long in captivity. The Great Bustard may be kept 
in a similar manner, if confined in a large enclosure 
over which he can lord it at pleasure. He is not suited 
for the fowl yard, as he will fight and quarrel with the 
other denizens. 
In their wild state Bustards have to undergo a good 
deal before they are strong enough to escape from their 
enemies. The mother guards them from the attacks of 
Goshawks, Kites, and Harriers, but is unable to defend 
them from Eagles, foxes, and martens, so that many 
young birds fall a prey to these dangerous robbers. 
Those Bustards, however, which attain maturity un¬ 
harmed must live to a great age; at least, Bustards fifty 
years old are not looked upon as great rarities. 
The pursuit and capture of this shy and wary bird is 
difficult in the extreme, and rarely successful. It is a 
sport that calls forth all the woodcraft and skill of the 
hunter, and requires special weapons to enable him to 
attain his end. Nooses and traps are useless, as one can 
never tell where the flock may be, and these large birds 
are rarely caught in nets, so nothing remains but to use 
fire-arms, and with the aid of these the difficulties of the 
chase are not yet overcome. It is very rare, indeed, that 
the Bustard will allow the sportsman to come within 
rifle-range, and then it is only by chance that he may 
