BRITISH GAME-BIRDS. 193 



look at it for a short time and then rose, flying 

 round him. This gentleman at once gave the most 

 positive orders for the grand bird's protection. 

 Lord Lilford heard about it, and he most gener- 

 ously offered to send a hen-bird from his magnifi- 

 cent aviaries to turn down as a mate for it, hoping 

 that it might be induced to stay. This latter, 

 through misfortune, was found dead in a deep dyke 

 or ditch. Again Lord Lilford, on hearing of it, 

 offered to find another hen-bird, which offer was 

 gladly accepted, and the hen was duly turned 

 down ; but the cock disappeared and was seen no 

 more. When game-birds go, it is a difficult mat- 

 ter to get them back again, or even to get them 

 to stay for a time. 



The bustard plays up in the breeding season. He 

 holds his head up, puffs his neck out, while his 

 feather whiskers stand out well away ; his tail is 

 held up and outspread like a fan, and the wings 

 are half drooped. So he prances round about, a 

 noble bird to behold. Like other game-birds, he 

 plays up even when confined in aviaries and these 

 are now the only places in England, I am sorry 

 to say, where you can see the bustard do this ; for 



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