OTIS, Lin. &C. BUSTARD.
Bill straight, conical, compressed ; tip of the upper mandible slightly arched ; nostrils open, oval, approxi mated, but remote at the base ; legs with three toes, con nected by a membrane at the base ; wings of moderate di mensions.
These arc heavy birds, which fly little, and are ex tremely shy. When fatigued in the course, or on the point of being captured, they graze along the ground with a rapid and well-sustained flight. They live in corn-fields or bushy plains, and feed on herbs, grains, seeds, and in sects. One mate is attended by several females, which live solitary after they are fecundated. The males of most of the species exhibit a more ornamented and varied plu mage than the females; but there is reason to believe that they moult twice a-year, and that the winter attire of the sexes is nearly similar.
0. tarda, Lin. &c. Great Bustard. Waved and spot ted with black, and rufous above; whitish beneath ; prima ry quills black; under mandible with a tuft of fine elongat ed feathers; legs black ; bill bluish. Length about four feet; extent of wing six feet eight inches ; and weight from twenty to thirty pounds, being the largest of our Bri tish birds. The female is about half the size of the male, and wants the tuft or beard of slender feathers. The male is provided with a curious bag or pouch, situated in the fore part of the neck, and capable of containing about two quarts of water. This singular reservoir, which seems to be unfolded only in the adult state of the bird, is probably destined for the conveyance of drink to the young, in the midst of those extensive and arid plains which the species chiefly affects. About Morocco, where it is customary to fly the hawk at the bustard, the latter has been observed to squirt the water with violence against the assailant, and thus to baffle its pursuit.
Bustards appear to be natives of the greater part of Eu rope, but are not of equal frequency in every district, and particularly shun well inhabited and cultivated tracts, be ing peculiarly shy and timid, and requiring an extensive and uninterrupted range for their erratic movements. In England, they used to be met with in flocks of fifty or more, frequenting the open country of the southern and eastern parts, from Dorsetshire as far as the \Voids of Yorkshire ; but they have now become extremely scarce, even in the downs of Wiltshire, where they formerly abounded. Though not probably migratory, they occa sionally shift their quarters, especially during severe win ters. In Champagne and Picardy, they are observed in great numbers during spring and autumn. Their food consists of green corn, the tops of turnips, and various other vegetables, and worms ; but they also eat frogs, mice; and small birds. In winter they have been known
to feed on the bark of trees, and, like the ostrich, they will swallow, indiscriminately, almost any small substance that is presented to them. In the Crimea, they arc seen in large flocks, especially during winter, when the wings and crop-feathers are sometimes so encumbered with ice, that the bird is unable in the snow to take the run previously to flying, in consequence of which many are caught by the hand, or by means of dogs, and brought to market alive. The flesh, particularly of the young, when kept for a short time, is said to be excellent. Bustards pair early in spring. The female constructs no nest, but lays two eggs, as large as those of a goose, and of a pale olive brown, marked with spots of a darker hue, in a hole form ed by her feet, in a dry corn-field. The incubation lasts about a month ; and the young ones follow their dam soon after they are excluded ; but they are not capable of flying for some time after. They are easily tamed, and may be trained to consort with other poultry ; but all attempts to rear the race in confinement have proved abortive. The quills of this species, like those of the goose, or swan, are used for writing with. The coursing of these birds with greyhounds, is said to afford excellent sport.
0. tetrax, Lin. &c. Tetrax canzliestris, Leach and Steph. Little Bustard, Field Duck, or Field Bustarnelle. Variegated with black, rufous, and white ; with black zig zag markings above, white beneath ; neck black, with a double white ring. Collar of the female of the same co lour as the back, and the breast rufous-white, streaked with dusky. About seventeen or eighteen inches in length, and about the size of a pheasant. Native of seve ral countries of the south of Europe, of Southern Russia, and of the deserts of Tartary ; rare in the northern regions, although, according to Acerbi, it has been traced to Lap land. In this island it is extremely scarce, only a few in stances of its having been sho! in the south of England be ing on record. It manifests the shyness, and most of the other habits of the preceding. If disturbed, or alarmed, it will fly for two or three hundred paces, not far from the ground, and then run faster than a man on foot can follow. The sexes pair in May; and, about the end of June, the female lays from three to five eggs, of a beautiful glossy green. As soon as the young are hatched, the hen leads them about ; and they begin to fly early in September. Before that period they squat down, on the slightest noise, and will sooner be crushed than attempt flight. The flesh of this species is dark-coloured, but much in request by the epicures.