274 LORD LILFOKD 



by the Shetlander before mentioned, frequently 

 catch and devour the smaller gulls themselves ; 

 for this purpose their sharply-curved claws are 

 well adapted. 1 



'Tn the next enclosure to the Skuas is a group 

 of Great Bustards from Spain all birds of last 

 year. This fine species, as most of you are 

 probably aware, was formerly well known and 

 not uncommon as a resident in various parts of 

 England, notably in the open districts of Nor- 

 folk, Suffolk, the downs of Sussex, Hampshire, 

 and Wiltshire, and the wolds of Yorkshire ; but 

 enclosure, high farming, and the increase of 

 population have driven the bustards away, and 

 in England nowadays we are only occasionally 

 visited by a few stragglers, that very rarely 

 escape the fate of all uncommon birds. In 

 Spain the Great Bustard is still very numerous, 

 and is not much molested by the natives, who 

 do not esteem its flesh highly. On this sub- 

 ject I cannot do better than refer any of those 

 present who may be interested in sport or natural 



1 There is an entry in my brother's diary dated August 31, 

 1891 : * I received from Shetland, as a present from Scott of Melby, 

 two yoong Great Skuas taken from a nest in Foula by one Thomas 

 Umphray, who came hither with them. He tells me that about 

 forty pairs have taken off their young on that Island this year.' 



