(_Otis tarda_)
By the extermination of the bustard, or great bustard, as it is
sometimes called in order to distinguish it from its smaller relatives,
the British Islands have lost one of the finest members of their
bird fauna; and, unfortunately, all attempts to rehabilitate this
magnificent species have resulted in failure. It is to be feared,
moreover, that any such attempts have but little chance of success in
the future, for the bustard is a native of open downs and fallows,
where it must live an undisturbed and untrammelled existence, and in
England at the present day this is almost an impossibility in country
of that description. In this respect the bustard stands at a great
disadvantage in comparison with the capercaillie, whose reintroduction
into the forests of Scotland was a relatively easy matter.
Like those of most polygamous birds, the cocks of the bustard are much
larger than the hens, rivalling full-grown turkeys in the matter of
size; they are also much more attractively coloured, and are furnished
with a quantity of white fluffy plumes, which are only fully displayed
when the birds perform their curious nuptial parade to attract the
hens, although some of them may be seen when two cocks are fighting,
as depicted in the plate. Another peculiarity of the cock is the
possession of a great pouch, communicating with the windpipe, on the
throat, which can be inflated under the influence of excitement.
When the wings are closed and the bird is engaged in feeding or other
normal occupation, the colouring of the body-feathers of the cock
bustard is admirably adapted to harmonise with the generally sandy
or earthy hue of the surroundings. In the case of the hen the whole
plumage is protectively covered. The one feature of the body-plumage
in both sexes which produces such a wonderful harmony between the
colouring and that of the surroundings is the presence of a vast number
of narrow black bars on a rufous buff ground, this type of colouring
not only matching sandy or loamy soil, but likewise aiding to break up
the outline of the bird.
When bustards lived in England their favourite resorts were the
dry, heathy uplands of Norfolk and Suffolk, and the downland of
Cambridgeshire, and the neighbourhood of Royston. At the present day
these splendid birds are still common in many parts of the Continent,
their range including the greater portion of central and southern
Europe and a large extent of central Asia, while in winter it likewise
embraces northern Africa. The steppes of Russia, the plains of the
Danube in its course through Hungary, and the open tracts of central
Asia are the regions where bustards are now to be met with in the
greatest numbers, although large flocks may be seen in parts of Spain.
[Illustration]
Bustards, which associate in large flocks, are essentially birds of the
open country, never entering woods, and preferring elevated ground,
whence they can command a wide view of the plains below, to which they
descend during the daytime in search of food. They are exceedingly shy
and mistrustful, giving every bush in their path a wide berth, lest it
should conceal a lurking foe, and taking to flight on the least alarm.
For warning of the presence of danger they seem to depend mainly upon
sight, although their hearing is also good; on the other hand, their
sense of smell, like that of most birds is but poorly developed. This
excessive shyness renders the bustard a difficult bird to bag, even by
the experienced gunner.
At the commencement of the pairing-season the cocks endeavour to
attract the attention of the hens by their nuptial display. Advancing
towards the latter they ruffle out their feathers like an excited
turkey-cock, at the same time lowering their wings and spreading out
the tail like a fan. The gular pouch is also inflated, so as to make
the neck appear as thick as possible, and the beautiful under feathers
are displayed to the utmost extent, the body and neck being half buried
in a billowy mass of snow-white plumes. It is at this time also that
the cocks rush at one another with trailing wings to contend with beak
and talons for the mastery. On such occasions it is possible to capture
these generally shy birds with the hand.
The nest is generally constructed amid growing corn, the hen merely
scratching a slight hollow in the ground, which she lines with straw,
bents, and grass. The three or four eggs are incubated by the hen
alone, and when the young are hatched, both these and their parents
leave the standing corn only for short periods. At first the young
bustards feed chiefly upon insects and worms, to which they are
directed by the old birds, but later on vegetable substances constitute
almost their sole food. Young peas and cabbage form very favourite
food, but in default of better nutriment grass is largely eaten.