2024 The Zoologist— February, 1870. 



Bustards in Siiffulk. — When I w:is a boy (now some fifiy-five years ago) a man 

 brouglil to my fallicr, al Great Bealiiigs, a female bustard, which he had shiil in tlie 

 parish of JMarllesham: he asked ten shillin};s for it, but he was advised by my father 

 to take it to Mr. Seaman, of Ipswich (a celebrated bird-siulfer in those days): he 

 easily obtained his price from Mr. Seaman, who stufftd liie bird and made a good 

 profit by it in Loudon. I asked the man who shot it for a feaiher of the bustard, vvhich 

 he gave me, and which I had in my possession for several yuars. This was the first 

 and last time I ever saw a bustard that had been taken in Suffolk. About the year 

 liS24 I was staying at Oxburgh, in Norfolk, and went with a friend to the house of the 

 Bev. R. Hammond, in Swaffham. Among other interesting cases of British birds, 

 sluflTed by himself, was one containing one male bustard, two female bustards, one 

 veiy small bustard (about six weeks old) and one liuslard's egg. Mr. Hammond's 

 account of that case to me was as follows: — A man brought to him one of the female 

 bustards, which he had shot, and which Mr. Hammond bought and stuffed, &c. Soon 

 after this Mr. Hammond heard thai a i)ustard had been more than once seen flying 

 over a large field near Swaffham : he with his servant went, towards sunset, to lay wait 

 for it: they saw it, but it did not come within shot of either of them. They went to 

 the same liehl next day and took up their positions, though not exactly on the same 

 spot: the bird caine again, and flew within a long shot of Mr. Hammond: he flred, 

 and the bird dropped about a font: it was evidently hit, and made a somewhat sudden 

 turn and flew over one end of the tow« : he and the servant took accurate bearings (by 

 two chimneys) of the bird's flight, which was in a straight line. It was then getting 

 dark, and next morning, as soon as it was lij:ht, they started to look for the bird: they 

 walked a few yards apart; they went across one field, then over the hedge into the 

 next, holding a straight course. In the middle of the second field, which was a large 

 one, they saw some object on the surface, which they hoped might be tiie bird: so it 

 proved to be, and when within shot it was agreed that Mr. Hammond should try to 

 throw himself on the bird, and so to secure it (for they were sure it was wounded and 

 weak): should Mr. Hammond fail, the servant was to shoot; but when quite close 

 Jlr. Hammond saw that the bird was dead. It proved to be a magnificent male. Not 

 long afterwards he was shooting in a field of turnips near S waff bam: his dog made a 

 point, and on Mr. Hammond going up to him and trying to urge him on he refused 

 to move, and on narrowly looking near the dog's head, he perceived almost between its 

 feet a dead female bustard, in excellent preservation. .After this a niau brought him 

 two bustard's eggs, which he had found near Swaffham: Mr. Hammond blew one of 

 lliem and jjuI the otiier under a turkey, which hatched it in due time, and it got on 

 very well with the rest of her brood ; when one d.iy -Mr. Haminmul thought that a little 

 hustard would look charmingly in the case with the other three and the eggs, and 

 besides he tried to persuade himself that the little pet might be stolen from him by 

 rats, &c. : so with rather a heavy heart he signed its dealh-vvarraiit, and there it was 

 in the case when I was at Mr. Hammond's, iociking like a little prince in the midst of 

 its royal companions. I fear the bustard will soon be no more than an historical bird 

 in England. I forget what Mr. Hammond said he would not lake for that case of 

 bustards; but il was a long price. — Edivard J. Moor. 



Avucit, Bittern and Gruy P/ialarope at Uaslimjs. — I was shown to-day an avoeet, 

 in immature dress, one of a small flock of three shut at llye during the snowy weather 

 in the latter part of December. A bittern was hanging up with a young heron al one 



