With regard to its says that the Bustard feeds upon corn, seeds of herbs, colewort, dandelion leaves, &c. In the stomach of one which he dissected he found a great quantity of hemlock-seed, with three or four grains of barley, and that in harvest time. Brookes states that they feed upon frogs, mice, small birds, And different kinds of insects. Pennant snakes their food to consist of corn and other vegetables, and those large earth-worms tl.at appear on the Downs before sun-rising in the sununer. Montagu states it to be green corn, the tops of turnips, and various other vegetables, as well as worms; but adds, that they have been known to eat frogs, mice, and young birds of the smaller kind, which they can swallow whole. Turnip-tops are certainly a favourite article of diet with these birds; and we believe that the nine bustards above mentioned owed their fate to their fondness for this vegetable—being laid in wait for at their feeding-time. Temininck says that their nourishment consists very muoh of insects and worms, and also of grain and seeds.
The eggs of the two in number generally, sometimes three, are laid upon the bare ground, which is often a little hollowed out by the female (occasionally, says Selby, among clover, but snore frequently in eorn-fields), early in the spring. They rather exceed those of a turkey in size, and their colour is a yellowish-brawn, inclining to oil-green, with slight darker variations. Time of incu bation four weeks. The young as soon as hatched follow the parent, but are incapable of flight for a long time.
The extreme rapidity of their running, and the unwillingness to rise on the wing exhibited by these birds, have been the theme of most ornithologists. We have also many accounts of their being coursed with dogs. The following is from Brookes :—" There are also bustards in France which frequent large open plains, particularly near Chalons, where in the winter time there are great numbers of them seen together. There is always one placed as a sentinel, at some distance from the flock, which gives notice to the rest of any danger. They raise themselves from the ground with great difficulty ; for they run sometimes a good way, beating their wings before they fly. They take them with a hook baited with an apple or flesh. Some times fowlers shoot them as they lie concealed behind some eminence, or on a load of straw ; others take them with greyhounds, which often catch them before they are able to rise." Selby, who has evidently had good opportunities of observation, thus writes in his Illustrations :'—" Although, in a state of confinement, the bustard becomes tolerably tame to those who are in the habit of attending it, yet it displays nt all times considerable ferocity towards strangers; and all attempts to continue the breed in that state have been without success. With respect to its habits in the wild state, it is so shy as
seldom to be approached within gun-shot ; invariably selecting the centre of the largest inelosure, where it walks slowly about, or stands with the howl reposing backwards upon the bare part of its neck, and frequently with one leg drawn up. Upon being disturbed, so far from running in preference to flight (as has been often described), it rises upon the wing with great facility, and flies with much strength and swiftness, usually to another haunt., which will sometimes he at the distance of six or seven miles. It leas also been said that in former days when the species was of common occurrence, it was a practice to run the young birds (before they were able to fly) with greyhounds. So far from this possibility existing with the present remnant of the breed, the young birds upon being alarmed constantly squat close to the ground, in the same manner as the young of the lapwing, golden plover, &c., and in that position arc frequently taken by hand ; indeed this is even the habit of the female during incubal •art." Selby's remarks on its powers of flying are corroborated by the • Books of Falconrie or Hawking' (1611), where, under the head of 'Other flights to the fielde called great flights,' at p. 83, we find it thus written :—" There is yet another kind of flight to the fielde, called the great flight, as to the cranes, wild geese, bustard, bird of paradise, bitters, shovelers, hearons, and many other such like, and these you may flee from the fist, which is properly tearmed the source. Neverthelesse, in this kind of hawking, which is called the Great Flight, the falcons or other bawkes cannot well accomplish their flight at the cranes, bustard, or such like, unlesse they have the helpe of some spaniell, or such dogge, we] inured and taught for that purpose with your hawke. Forasmuch as great flights require pleasant ayde and assistance, yea and that with great diligence." As an article of food the flesh of the bustard is held in great estimation. It is dark in colour, short in fibre, but sweet and well-flavoured.
0. tetras, the Little Bustard, is only an accidental winter visitor in Great Britain. Specimens have been killed in various parts of our coast. It is frequent in the southern and south-western parts of Russia. It is common in France, and also found in Spain, Provence, Sardinia, Italy, and Sicily. It is also an inhabitant of North Africa, Turkey, and Greece.