8 BIRDS OP NORFOLK. 



of Mr. Woods, gives the date of this female"^ as " about 

 1837;" Mr. W. G. Woods, however, considers that it 

 was *^ about twenty-four years since," that is to say, 

 from the date of his letter to me in 1865, which 

 would make it some three years later than, instead 

 of one year prior to the Lexham bird. That the 

 former supposition is by no means impossible is further 

 shown by a record in Mr. Lubbock's " Fauna" (pub- 

 lished in 1845), in which that gentleman says " one 

 bustard three years back was observed in the parish of 

 Bridgham, near Harling," a statement which Mr. Newton, 

 after much enquiry of people in that neighbourhood, is 

 rather inclined to credit, and adds, ^^ whatever it was, 

 though shot at by a gentleman, the late Mr. George 

 Montgomerie (then living in the adjoining parish of 

 Garboldisham), it was not obtained, and hence the 

 uncertainty that exists. I have met with several 

 rumours, each apparently with an independent origin, 

 of a bustard having been seen in Norfolk about that 

 time (1842), so that I cannot but think there is some 

 truth at the bottom of them." 



Such, then, in brief, is the history of the gradual 

 and final extinction of this noble species in the Eastern 

 Counties. In order, however, better to comprehend the 

 causes which led to so unfortunate a result, I have 

 thought it desirable to collect from every available source 

 the scattered records existing of its habits, numbers, 

 and local distribution. Yet, besides such notes as have 

 appeared from time to time in natural history publica- 

 tions, there remained to be gathered from the evidence 

 of shepherds, warreners, gamekeepers, labourers, and 

 others, still living in localities where these birds had so 



* I have been unable, after many enquiries, to ascertain wbetber 

 tbis bird was cooked and eaten at the time, or preserved as a stuffed 

 specimen. 



