The Distribution of Birds in Great Britain. 443 



in Dorset, Hereford, Derby, and East Yorkshire appear to have failed ; 

 nor has the bird hitherto spread to any of our south-western shires. I 

 am informed by Mr. T. Gough that it has bred regularly of late years 

 in Westmoreland. 



The bird is returned as now breeding occasionally in Kent {Mr. 

 G. Jell}. In Essex, Herts, Oxford (occasionally), Bucks, Suffolk, 

 Norfolk, Cambridge, Huntingdon (occasionally), Northampton (occa- 

 sionally), Lincoln, Rutland (occasionally), and West York (very 

 rarely). 



The Rev. F. J. Scott believes that it is established in the hills of 

 Gloucestershire; but some confirmation of this last locality appears 

 desirable. 



COTURNIX COMMUNIS (Bonn.']. Common Quail. 



Provinces I.-XVII. 



Subprovinces 2-8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19-23, 24-29, 30, 31, 



32, 35- 

 Lat. 50-59. " British " type, or general. 



Thinly scattered, during the breeding-season, from the south of 

 England to the very north of Scotland. Yet there are few counties in 

 which the Quail is considered to breed annually; nor can these be 

 grouped in any manner so as to show where the species is most 

 numerous. 



It has certainly decreased of late years in several districts, and this 

 apparently not owing to any cause that can be discovered. In the 

 west of Ireland the same diminution has been noticed. In former 

 times I am informed that the Quail was reckoned as one of the regular 

 winter visitors on the west side of the sister island, but it has not 

 been so much observed of late years. It is still considered to breed 

 annually about Belfast, and in county Armagh I have myself heard its 

 note during the breeding-season. The bird is probably better known 

 in the north-east of Ireland than in any part of England or Scotland. 



If there is any difference, the range of the Quail seems to incline 

 rather to the east side of Great Britain, as well as of Ireland, during the 

 breeding-season. It seems to occur chiefly in the south of England 

 during winter. 



OTIS TARDA (Linn.\ Great Bustard. 



Provinces [II.] [IV.] [VIII.] [X.] 



Subprovinces (4), (5), (6), (10), (11), (12), (19), (22). 



Lat. 50-55. " Germanic " type. Not in Ireland. 



In former times the Great Bustard was well known as inhabiting the 

 downs of the south of England, the heaths in a few of the eastern counties, 

 and the wolds of Yorkshire. 



Its breeding-range included the counties of Wilts, Dorset (Rev. J. 

 H. Austen\ Hants, Sussex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridge, Lincoln, and 



