444 STRUTHIONHXaS. 



and lie proposed that we should get as near them as we 

 could in order to ascertain the fact whether they ran so 

 fast as had been reported, because they could not easily 

 take wing. We accordingly proceeded by the valleys in 

 the Down, concealing ourselves as much as possible by 

 leaning over the necks of our horses until we got within 

 about two hundred yards of them, when we suddenly as- 

 cended the hill on which they were standing, and riding 

 pretty fast, got within one hundred yards of them ; but to 

 our disappointment they made but a few springs and were 

 on the wing, flew away, and we saw no more of them. 



" At another time, within a year afterwards, I was again 

 accompanying him and a relation of ours in a one-horse 

 chaise to Devizes, and whilst we were within the banks of 

 the road, about a quarter of a mile from Chitterne Barn, 

 two Bustards flew over our heads within gun shot, and I 

 could distinctly see the colour of their plumage. 



"About the year 1792, a traveller passing over the 

 Downs between Devizes and Salisbury came upon a Bus- 

 tard which started up and tumbled about as if wounded 

 and unable to rise ; he rode after it a little way, but the 

 bird gained upon him, and he returned to the road ; in so 

 doing, he found a young Bustard in a wheel-track, which 

 he caught and took to Salisbury, and gave it to Mrs. 

 Steedman, of the Red Lion Inn there. This bird I fre- 

 quently saw and handled. It was very tame, and within 

 three months after it was there it could eat off the table 

 in the bar. Mrs. Steedman told me she was offered, but 

 refused, ten guineas for the bird, the party wishing to get 

 it for Lord Temple, then living near Winchester, who it 

 was said had another Bustard. Mrs. Steedman soon after- 

 wards lost the bird, by a pointer getting into her parlour 

 and killing it. 



" In 1802, a female Bustard was shot by a shepherd, in 



