180 On the Occurrence of some of the Rarer Species of Birds 



their own for a considerable period; though year by year growing 

 still beautifully less, until in 1832 the last specimen is recorded in 

 SuflPolk, while in the sister county they lingered on certainly until 

 1838 — while indistinct rumours asserted that one had been seen, 

 now in this place, and now in that, as late as the year 1813, or even 

 1845. In fact, in 1833 five ^gg?> — two pairs and a single one — had 

 been taken on Massingham Heath, from the belief that they would 

 prove barren, as all the remaining birds in the drove had for some 

 time been observed to be females only. From that time, however 

 (1845), for a long stretch of years]the list would seem to have been 

 as blank in Norfolk, as that referring to our own plain in Wilts. 



After having premised thus much, therefore, imagine my surprise 

 on receiving a kind note from Mr. Henry Blackmore, late of this 

 city, during January, 1871, asking me to lunch with him on a 

 certain day, as he thought, being interested in birds, I should like 

 to say that I had partaken of a Salisbury Bustard ; for that a female 

 bird had been killed on January 23rd, the skin of which had been 

 sent for preservation to King, of Warminster, while the body would 

 be sent up to table on the appointed day. I need not say I gladly 

 accepted the invitation, and am able to plume myself on having 

 done, what few of my cotemporaries have had a chance of doing, 

 i.e., dined off a Salisbury Bustard. 



The capture of this bird was recorded thus in our local journal : 

 " A Great Bustard was shot on Monday last on the Maddington 

 Manor Farm, by a bird-keeper named Stephen Smith, in the em- 

 ployment of Mr. E. Lywdod. The gun was loaded with a ' marble,' 

 and the shot was a long one — 132 yards. The bird, which was in 

 company with two [?] others, had its wing broken, and fell in an 

 oblique direction with great violence to the ground a distance of 

 about 20 yards. One of the survivors shortly afterwards wheeled 

 round the spot, passing within 15 yards of Smith, evidently looking 

 for its companion. Mr. Lywood brought the bird to Salisbury 

 on Tuesday last, and very kindly presented it to the Salisbury and 

 South Wilts Museum; it is a female weighing seven-and-a-quarter 

 pounds only. The crop was quite empty, and the bird was not in 

 good condition, although in excellent plumage. It measures 31in. 



