GREAT BUSTARD. 5 



more than two or three in company, and in 1832, there 

 is reason to believe that a nest found on the borders of 

 Thetford warren was the last known in Suffolk, and a 

 single bird observed later in the summer of the same 

 year, on Ickliugham heath, the sole survivor in that once 

 noted locality. Mr. Newton thus refers to the appearance 

 of this solitary bird — " Mr. Thornhill, of Riddlesworth 

 Hall, in July or August, 1832, while walking one hot day 

 across Icklingham heath, came upon a place where it 

 was evident that some large bird had been rolling and 

 dusting itself in the sand. On examination, he found 

 close by a bustard's feather, and looking round him 

 he perceived a hen bustard not many yards off, and 

 this is til e last well authenticated instance of the occur- 

 rence of this fine bird in Suffolk that I am aware of." 

 The late Mr. J. D. Hoy, who, writing in November, 

 1832, recorded the occurrence of the last Suffolk nest 

 in the "Magazine of Natural History" for 1833 (p. 150), 

 also states that the old bird carried off her young in 

 safety, and that a male bird and two females had been 

 recently seen together on the same heath. Subsequently 

 Mr. Newton ascertained from the late Mr. J. D. Salmon 

 (who, with Mr. Hoy, saw the young bird that was 

 hatched from this nest when about half grown) that the 

 nest was situated in a field of rye, into which the old 

 and young retired when disturbed. 



Norfolk now remained the last of our English counties 

 to reckon the bustard amongst its resident species, nor 

 was this privilege to be long enjoyed. In the spring 

 of 1833, as recorded by Mr. S^tlmon (" Mag. Nat. Hist.," 

 1834, p. 458) : — " Three females resorted to Great 

 Massingham Heath for incubation. Their eggs con- 

 sisted of two pairs and a single one. These were 

 taken away under the impression that, as there was 

 no male bird, they were good for nothing;" but this 

 was possibly a mistaken impression, inasmuch as in 



