The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-04-26
BUsTARD HUNTING.
Easily Caught in Winter After Ice Has
Formed on Their Pinions.

The drachwa, as Russians call the
bustard, is true bird of the steppe.
High grounds have no attraction for
il, and, so long as the weather is open,
il scorns the shelter of reed and under
wood, camping out like veritable
nomad, on the bare steppe, and
nesting in the open where it can
find plenty of grass. of which,
by the way it can eat enormous
quantities. Toward the middle OF
November great proportion OF the
birds migrate, and do not return until
the end of March; but large numbers
remain behind and winter in the more
southerly parts of Russia. in the
region stretching from the Dneister
aud Dneiper right away to the Don,
and even the Ural.
Why so many of the birds should
resist the migratory instinct when
their fellows wing their way to warmer
countries is q question which ornithol-
ogists have yet to settle. In winter
| the birds are found associated in large
numbers-as many as eighty or hum
dred together. But this does not
| arise from any desire for companion
ship, nor have the fowls any common
purpose to serve in SO associating. 1t
| is due to the simple fact that the area
| within which food is to be had be-
comes more and more circumscribed
as the weather gets colder. And it is to
be observed that the parties composing
the flock never mingle. If from any
cause such body, eighty or hum
dred strong, be disturbed it will in
stantly break up into three or four dis
tinct troops in which every individual
appears to know its place. If, again,
one of these smaller divisions of twenty
or thirty be pursued, the birds will
separate into parties of ten or twelve.
each batch making offin different di-
lrection.
In ordinary weather the birds take
shelter beneath the nearest underwood
or brush. and at such times the hun
ter may look IN vain for the bustard.
But with an exceptionally strong frost,
or cold snap lasting more than a
couple of days. comes the sports
mans opportunity. Then the poor
creature falls an easy prey to its
lenemies, for at such time it is sub
Iiect to strange disability. The
Feathers of its wings freeze, cover
ing of ice forms over them, and the
bird is unable to rise. During the
might the heavy hoar frost that pre-
walls during exceptionally cold
weather in Russia settles on and in the
wing feathers. binding them together.
In this condition the bird seeks the
Iopen and passes its beak through Its
frozen pinions to free them from the
lice. But if the heavy frost con-
tinue at night and day, or the bird
be prevented from leaving the brush
to free itself from the encumbrance,
Iall is over with it. The ice crystals still
form upon and overpower its wings,
the bird sinks from over-fatigue and
cold, and the fox and wolf-always
lon the watch for this opportunity
find the ,bustard an easy prey.
Aware of this, the bustard hunters
know exactly what to do and where to
look for t cir quarry. When an un-
usually severe spell of cold sets in, or
very keen hoar frost lasts more than
a day or 50, they make their prepar-
atiens. Horses are carefully rough
Ishod, for the sport is pursued on
horse back. and the ground is as
smooth and slippery as Il sheet of ice.
Then in the morning, not too early,
the party, four, five or six strong
starts. Each one goes armed with a
whip having a stout handle, and a
lcouplc of lassos; firearms are needed.
The most promising feeding grounds
in the neighborhood are. of course,
known to the sportsmen, and they
make for the cover nearest these
places Now they beat the under
wood and brush, hallooing ami crack
ing their whips. The frightened birds
rush out and try to make for the open.
But the weight of their frozen wings
presses them down; the feathers are
covered with ice; they can neither rist
nor run. They just wa.ldle here and
there in a helpless. ungainly fashion.
Crack! crack go the whips, and the
birds nearest the iorseman fall right
and left, Instantly killed by the dex.
ferrous blow on the head with whip
stock. Out fly the lassos, and tie more
distant birds are struggling in the
moose. Where four, five or six per.
sons take part in such hunt few
minutes suffice to despatch fairly
large number of bustards, and then a
move is made to fresh ground.
The bustard, it is curious to note, is
the only bird of the stcppe that is liza.
BILE to this freezing of the pinion
feathers in severe weather, but ducks
are often found on the larger rivers
frozen to the ice by their legs. boston
Transcript.