Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-07-05
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BUSTARD HUNTING.
Sasily Caught la WiRter AftSr Ice Hea
Formed ON THOR Piatsne-

Formed ON TIoir PiaIone-
The drachwa, as Russians call the
bustard, Is true bird ef the stepPc.
High grounds have no attraction for
1t, and, so long as the weather iS open,
1t seorns the shelter OF reoA and under.
wood, camping out like veritable
nomad, on tho bare DtepPe, and
nesting In the open whore IL can
find plenty OF grass. Of which.
by the way II can eat onOrmoue
quantities. Toward tho middle az
November n great proporHoH a. the
birds migrate, and do NOT return uNHl
the end of March; but large RumbnE~
remain behind and Water lR the mOre
southerly parts Of Russia, In the
region stretching from tho Dnsistct
and Dneiper right away TO the Don,
and even tho Ural.
Why SO maRy Of the birds shenld
resist the migratory instinct whch
their follows wing their way to warmer
countries is q question which orslthOl-
ogists have yet TO settle. In winter
tho birds are found associated In largo
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 associaung, Ia
is due to tho simple fact TINT the area
within which food is. TO-, Do lJtgd Dr.
comes more and more circumscribcd
as the weather gets colder. And II Ia 10
be observed that.thc parties composing
the flock never minglo. IL from any
cause such body, eighty or n hun
dred strong. be disturbed, II win m.
stantly break mp into three or four dis
tinct troops in which every individual
appears TO know its place. II, again.
one of these smaller divisions OF twenty
or thirty be pursued, the birds win
separate into parties Of ton or twelve,
each batch making otfin different di.
mction.
In ordinary weather the birds take
shelter beneath the nearest underwood
or brush, and ut such times the hun.
ter may look IN vain for the bustard.
But with an exceptionally strong frost,
or cold snap lasting moro than .
couple of days, comes the sports
mans opportunity. Then the poor
creature falls an ensy prey 20 its
enemies, for at such time 10 Is sub
feathers of it's wings freeze, a cover
ing of ice FERNS over them, aud tho
bird is unable TO rise. During tho
night the heavy boar frost that pro-
walls during exceptionally cold
weather in Russia settles on and IA fho
wing feathers. binding them togeIhor.
In this condition tho bird seeks tho
open and passes its bcak through It's
frozen pinions to free them from tho
ice. But IL the heavy frost con.
tinue at night and a day. or tho bird
BIO prevented from leaving the brush
to free itself from tho oncumbrance,
all is over with IL. Tho leo crystals still
form upon and Overpowor its wings.
tho bird sinks from ovcr-fatiguc aud
cold, and the fox and wolf-always
on 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 their quarry. When an nm
usually severe spoil OF cold sets In. or
a very keen boar frost lasts moro than
day or so, they mako their prepar-
atoms Horses arc carefully rough
shod, for tho sport Is UlNyneal On
horseback. and tho .gtiIuHd !" Is as
smooth and slippery as sheet Of 10.
Then in the morning, not too early,
the party, four, five or six strong
starts. Each one goes armed with 4
whip having stOht handle, and n
couple of lassOs; firearms are needed.
The most promising feeding grounds
in the neighborhood are. OF 'potirse,
known to the sportsnYefi, and They
make for the cover nearest those
places. Now they beat tho under-
wood and brush, halloolRR and 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; thN feathers are
covered leo; thoy can Mother rise
nor run. .ney Just waddlo here and
there in n helplesss InngaInly fashion.
Crack crack go the whips, and tho
birds nearest tho horsomRR fall right
and left, instantly killed by tho dex-
ferrous blow on the head with a whip
stock. Out fly the lassos, and the more
distant birds arc struggling in Tho
moose. Where four, Eve or SIX per-.
sons take part in such a hunt few
minutes suffice to despatch . fairly
large number OF bustards. aud thon . /.
move is made TO fresh ground.
The bustard, II is curious 10 note, 10
the only bird Of the steppe that Il lia.
BILE to this freezing of the piRIOn
feathers in severe weather. but ducks
are often found on the larger rivers
frozen to the ice W their logs. -BostoS
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