Birds, 513 



Birds. — The Great Bustard. (Vol. III. p. 5\5., Vol. VI. 

 p. 150.) — This bird formerly was frequently seen at Icklingham 

 in Suffolk, Brandon Heath, and the open fields of Norfolk ; 

 but has not been observed in the first place for some years. 

 The last seen there was a hen bustard, sitting on six or seven 

 eggs. She, unfortunately, was disturbed by a farmer, who 

 secured the bird by throwing a casting net over her ; but she 

 pined for a short time and died. Bustards are, however, still 

 occasionally seen in the grounds of the Duke of Grafton, at 

 Easton, and on the heaths between Thetford and Newmarket. 



The method which was usually adopted by the sportsman 

 desirous of shooting this shy bird is dressing his head with 

 boughs, and walking by the side of a stalking horse decorated 

 in the same manner, until he arrive within gunshot. I have 

 never heard that the breed has been domesticated. The late 

 Duke of Queensberry had three pinioned on his lawn at 

 Newmarket ; and J. Wastall, Esq. had one for a long time 

 in his garden at Risby, in Suffolk. In a wild state, they live 

 on grain and insects, and (according to Shaw) on rats and 

 field mice. They breed among the corn in summer, and in 

 autumn form coveys or flights of about three or four brace. 

 Their flesh is much esteemed by sportsmen. — N. S. Hodson. 

 Abbey Grounds, Bury St. Edmunds, Jan. 2. 1833. 



The Little Bustard (Qttis Tetrax L.). (p. 141.) — A fine spe- 

 cimen of the little bustard, a bird very scarce in this country, 

 was lately shot near Caxton, in this county. It is in the 

 possession of the Cambridge Philosophical Society. — Cam^- 

 bridge Chronicle, January 18. 1833. {Henry Turner. ~\ 



The Peacock a Narcissus. — ThelateBaronTernaux decorated 

 his grounds at St. Ouen, near Paris, with splendid looking- 

 glasses, which reflected the varied landscape, and produced a 

 very fine effect. One day, the gardener found one of the pea- 

 cocks before the glass, with his tail displayed? and apparently 

 contemplating himself with great satisfaction* The gardener 

 let him remain there until he went round the grounds ; he 

 returned in a few hours, and found the peacock still before 

 the glass. He now drove him away, but he as constantly 

 returned. — He at length took him to the aviary ; but the pea-> 

 cock, as soon as he could get out, went back to the mirror, 

 refusing all food for the delight of contemplating himself 

 in the glass. The baron at last suffered him to remain, 

 ordering food to be placed for him near the glass; but he did 

 not touch it: and, on the third or fourth day, the bird of 

 Juno was found lying dead before the glass. A second pea- 

 cock, which had never seen the mirror, was brought, that it 

 might be observed whether the effect would be the same; 



Vol. VI. — No. 36. l l 



