204 OTIDID^. 



little doubt that every now aud then one fell to the gun, or 

 was caught in the gin of a depredator, while the smaller 

 proprietors were by no means actuated by any feelings for 

 the perpetuation of the stock, and a few of the larger ones 

 occasionally wished to supply themselves or their friends 

 with specimens for their collections or even for edible pur- 

 poses. Not a thought of the extermination of the s^^ecies 

 seems to have passed through their minds. Either they 

 were entirely indifferent about the matter, or else they be- 

 lieved that since, as long as they could remember, there had 

 always been Bustards on their brecks, therefore Bustards 

 there would always be. It is to be remarked that cock birds 

 are said to have been comparatively scarce in this drove, 

 three being the most that are spoken to by any eye-witness, 

 and, as has just been stated, when the numbers of the drove 

 were much diminished, cocks were entirely wanting. These 

 observations probably refer to the old cocks, which so greatly 

 surpass the hens in size ; for it must be remembered that, 

 as is known through foreign observers, the male Bustard is 

 several years in .attaining its full growth, and until then it 

 cannot be readily distinguished from the female at a distance." 



Very full particulars are given by Mr. Stevenson of the 

 specimens of birds and eggs obtained in Norfolk and Suffolk, 

 and in tracing their history many details of the highest 

 interest are recorded, but space will not admit of further 

 quotation. The finest series of Norfolk, or indeed of British 

 Bustards, appears to be in the collection made by the late 

 Mr. Robert Elwes, of Congham House, near Lynn. As 

 regards the date of extirpation, it may be added, that 

 although 1838 is the probable one, there are some persons 

 who believe that a bird or two lingered to 1843 or even 1845. 



In Scotland, the Great Bustard had long been extinct, 

 and it was j^robably a mere straggler from the Continent 

 which was shot in Morayshire, in 1803, where another was 

 also obtained, as recorded by the Rev. Mr. Gordon in his 

 * Fauna of Moray.' As regards Ireland, it is mentioned by 

 Smith, in his ' History of Cork,' in 1749, but there appears 

 to be no other evidence of its existence in that island. 



