I3<5 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 



snare, indiscriminately used, have banished it. One way of destroying it was by 

 baiting a spot within range of a battery of shot guns, so laid that a person at 

 a distance could, by means of a long string, discharge them when the bustards 

 came sufficiently near. Two or three years ago a male bustard was seen on 

 the fens, and every effort was made by the landowners to keep it safe. They 

 even turned out two female birds in the hope that it would pair with one and 

 breed ; but after staying about for a few days it flew away, and was not again 



THE GREAT BUSTARD (Otzs taraa). 



LETTER III. 



SELBORNE, Jan. i$th, 1770. 



DEAR SIR, It was no small matter of satisfaction to me to find 

 that you were not displeased with my little methodus of birds. If 

 there was any merit in the sketch, it must be owing to its 

 punctuality. For many months I carried a list in my pocKet of 



