THE BUSTARD 57 



Stevenson, but I have not got his 2nd volume with me 

 here. Indeed, to the best of my recollection, I could 

 never hear of but one well-established instance of a 

 Bustard being seen between harvest time and the begin- 

 ning of the New Year. This was a young bird shot by 

 the late Sir Alexander Grant (an old friend of my father's) 

 at Elden in September. 



What became of the birds in the meantime I have no 

 idea, but early in January, quite regardless of snow or 

 frost, they used to be seen on the brecks and so remained 

 till the corn (rye) hid them in the summer. 



The question of polygamy is also a dark point in 

 their history. 



As to the southern distribution of the species, I never 

 saw an African specimen, and I have sometimes been 

 inclined to doubt whether the big Bustard of Algeria, 

 etc., might not be Otis arabs, which you know poor Drake 

 got in Morocco (Ibis; 1867, p. 424). 



Yours in haste, 



ALFRED NEWTON. 



When Mr. Harting was preparing his edition of 

 " White's Selborne " (published in 1875), he included in 

 it Gilbert White's allusions to the Bustard, hitherto un- 

 published, and sent the proofs to Newton for his 

 comments. 



Bloxworth, Blandford, 



August 22, 1874. 



MY DEAR HAKTING, 



You will see by the " proof " which I now 

 return of the notes for your edition of " White's Selborne" 

 that I have read it pretty attentively, and have not 

 hesitated to suggest several changes in it of more or less 

 importance. 



Those of the greatest consequence are such as relate 

 to Black Game and Bustard. 



It has always puzzled me to account for White's 

 having said that the former had become extinct since 

 his boyhood. The species has existed I imagine always 



