Lost British Birds. 5 



followed ; and so on progressively ; leaving only the forms 

 that had no distinguishing mark, that attracted less atten- 

 tion on account of their smaller size, and their inferiority in 

 beauty of shape or colour. 



I. CHANE Grus cinerea. Of birds which have ceased to 

 rank as British species, the common crane comes first in the 

 order of time. In the sixteenth century it was, with other 

 large game birds heron, bittern, spoonbill, bustard, etc. 

 protected by act of Parliament. This was a wise law, that 



