2102 The Zoologist — April, 1870. 



when they passed to her nephew, Mr. Anthony Hamond, of High House, Westacre, 

 four miles from Swaffhain: he died about three months since, and I liave no doubt 

 the birds remain with his widow and family in that their family mansion, with the 

 addition of my poor brother's own collection, a very considerable and valuable one, 

 including a female bustard, which was shot by Mr. Elwes, in Norfulk, when I 

 happened to be staying at S waff ham, about forty years ago. My brother stuffed it 

 and cased it himself. At least three females still remained about in Norfolk without 

 any male, and some of their eggs were found, but which were of course useless. My 

 brother once saw all three together, but I believe was without a gun at the time. 

 I fancy one was afterwards shot by some one, and the others disappeared. It is now 

 many years since one has been seen. I do not know the present owner of Westacre, 

 but have no doubt any gentleman would be willingly allowed to see the collection — a 

 sight of which is well worih a pilgrimage of some distance." My schoolfellow (above 

 referred to) is Mr. William Dusimore, of The Firs, Hampstead, and his brother the 

 late Rev. Henry Dugraore, both natives of SwafiFham. — Edward J. Moor; Great 

 Beatings, Woodbridge, Suffolk, March l(>, 1870. 



The Scarborough Bustard's Egg. — My note on the nesting of the great bustard in 

 Yorkshire (S. S. 2063) disagrees, as far as dates are concerned, with Mr. Alwin Bell's 

 note on the same page. We refer to the same egg, and I have since applied for 

 information' from the Museum, and my dates are in accordance with the writing 

 attached to the specimen. Morris (' History of British Birds,' vol. iv. p. 3), writes as 

 follows: — " Henry Woodall, Esq., of North Dalton, has informed me that in the year 

 1816 or 1817, James Dowker, Esq., of that place, killed two near there with a right 

 and left shot, and saw a third I believe at the same time: a nest that had been 

 forsaken was also found, with one egg in it. which is now in the Scarborough 

 Museum." The same authority adds that the bustard brought into Scarborough 

 (referred to by Mr. Bell) vias found by the huntsman of the Scarborough harriers, 

 and that the bird had been shot a few days before by the keeper of Sir William 

 Strickland. This I think is far more likely than its having been kilkd by the 

 hounds, for, unless previously wounded, I doubt very much if harriers could calch a 

 bustard. One portion of my nole requires explanation and amendment, namely, 

 where I refer to the late Mr. John WoUey, and his desire to purchase the egg of Otis 

 tarda from the Scari)orough Museum. Professor Newton has kindly drawn my 

 attention to this point, and has given me the following information: — Mr. Wolley 

 knew and made a nole in his egg-book of the existence of this egg, as far back as 

 1843. A subsequent nole in his egg-book in 1850 adds that this specimen had been 

 "boiled wiih the notion of preserving it," and was of "bad colour." About 1856, 

 when on a visit to Scarborough, his sympathies for this egg were again aroused, and 

 pointing out to the Museum Committee the interest attached to this specimen, 

 lie made a formal application to that body, offering in exchange a considerable 

 number of the rare Lapland eggs that he had collected. The Committee of the 

 Museum declined the proposnl, and were doubtless right in doing so, as they have 

 retained iu their Museum a most valuable local specimen. I have added this to 

 banish a suspicion, that might have arisen from my careless writing, that the late 

 Mr. John Wolley offered money, or unknown to the Museum Committee endeavoured 

 to procure this egg. The explanation is due to the memory of one of whom no 

 uaturalist can think without the truest regard. — H. W. Fcilden ; Chester Castle, 

 March 11, 1870. 



