14 Lost British Birds. 



The fact that it punctually reappeared in many of its haunts 

 as early as January each year, shows that it did not go very 

 far afield. Stevenson does not concern himself much about 

 the bird as an individual its manners and customs; his 

 account is rather like a history of a people, or race, which 

 is apt to be a chronology and record of principal events 

 stratagems and spoils, manoeuvres, massacres, pursuit of 

 fugitives, etc., etc. His account opens solemnly : " With 

 almost kindred feelings to those with which one con- 

 templates, in the human race, the extinction of some great 

 historic name, the naturalist, at least, regards the extermina- 

 tion amongst us of this noble indigenous species." That so 

 noble a figure was ever indigenous, a member of an avi-fauna 

 now composed of comparatively mean forms, reads almost 

 like a tale of fancy. Yet this grand bird was once quite 

 common in all open localities suited to its habits throughout 

 the country the moors of Haddingtonshire and Berwick- 

 shire ; Newmarket and Koyston heaths ; the downs of 

 Berkshire, Wiltshire, Dorsetshire, Hampshire and Sussex. 

 In all these localities, Stevenson states, it had ceased to exist 

 before the" last of the race of British bustards fell victims to 

 the advancement of agriculture in its last haunt in 

 Norfolk and Suffolk. It was, in other words, deliberately 

 extirpated. In Wiltshire it ceased to exist about 1820 ; in 

 Yorkshire about 1825 ; in the open parts of Norfolk and 

 Suffolk it lingered on to 1832 and 1833. But for many 

 years before that date it had been pursued in that ruth- 

 less manner, which seems to indicate on the part of the 

 persecutors a fixed relentless determination to wipe the 

 species out the spirit of the gamekeeper with regard to 

 hawks, owls, the magpie, jay, and other species that still 

 exist to give variety and lustre to our wild bird life, and 

 redeem it from that oppressive sameness which is fast 

 becoming its most prominent characteristic. As long back 

 as 1812 one Turner of Wrotham conceived an ingenious 

 plan for the quick dispatch of bustards, which won him the 

 title of otidi'cide, and some substantial benefits. 



Of the laB downers in the district where the last bustards 



