GREAT BUSTARD. 5 
more than two or three in company, and in 1882, 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 Icklingham 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 the 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. Salmon (‘‘ 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 
