By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 135 
as a proof that the generally received opinion of the bustard’s 
drinking is untrue. This bird was judged to weigh upwards of 
20Ibs, and to measure between the extremities of its wings when 
extended about five feet, and its height was about three and a half 
feet. Its plumage was beautiful, and from its gait, which was 
extremely majestic, a spectator would be led to infer that it was 
sensible of its own superiority over others of the feathered tribe. 
In August, Mr. Bartley sold this noble bird to Lord Temple, for 
the sum of thirty guineas. The bustard inhabits the extensive 
downs of Salisbury Plain, but its race is now almost extirpated. 
It is thought that not more than three or four are now remaining. 
Some time in the last summer, (viz. 1801), while Mr. Bartley had 
this bird in his possession, a nest, supposed to belong to this bird, 
or at least to its mate, for Mr. Bartley’s bird was judged to be a 
male, was found in a wheat field on Market Lavington Down; it 
contained two eggs; they sometimes lay three though very seldom; 
they are about the size of those of a goose, of a pale olive brown, 
with small spots of a darker hue. The nest was made upon the 
ground by scratching a hole in the earth, and lined with a little 
grass; the eggs were rotten, and had probably undergone a period 
of incubation. 
“An instance of a bustard attacking a human being, or even a 
brute animal of any considerable size, was, I believe, never before 
heard of, and that two instances of this kind should occur so nearly 
together, may be considered very remarkable. About a fortnight 
subsequent to the taking of this bird, Mr. Grant, a respectable 
farmer of Tilshead, was returning from Warminster Market, and, 
near Tilshead Lodge, (which is something more than half a mile 
from the village), was attacked in a similar manner, by, as it is 
thought, the mate of the same bird. Mr. Grant’s horse being 
rather high mettled, took fright, became unmanageable, and ran 
off, and consequently Mr. Grant was compelled to abandon his 
design of endeavouring to capture the bird.” Such is the account 
communicated by Mr. Britton, and with reference to the bird kept 
by Mr. Bartley, I have further learnt, through the kindness of the 
Rey. E. Wilton, that it was kept in a kind of staked cage made for 
