2416 The Zoologist — January, 1871. 



for it is difficult to conceive why a bird of such powerful flight as 

 the bustard should prefer to carry about with him fourteen or even 

 four pounds of water; and the two proposed solutions of this problem 

 seem far from satisfactory, viz. that it may fill this pouch with water 

 " as a supply in the midst of those dreary plains where it is accus- 

 tomed to wander," and that it may make a further use of the water 

 in defending itself against the attacks of birds of prey ; on such 

 occasions " throwing out the water with such violence as not un- 

 frequently to baffle the pursuit of its enemy." Does not the 

 structure pointed out by Mr. Smith suggest the idea of a reservoir 

 of air rather than a reservoir of water? a number of membrane- 

 divided sacs reminds one of the pouter pigeon, the object of whose 

 apparent deformity has, I believe, never been determined. 



It is gratifying to learn from so high an authority as Mr. Steven- 

 son that the stone curlew still maintains its ground in Norfolk : 

 the sight of one hundred and fifty in a flock must have been a 

 great treat. I will quote the passage in which this fact is stated, 

 as well as a second on the breeding habits of the bird. 



" From Thetford, their main stroughokl, as in days gone by, Mr. Bartlett 

 writes, ' I do not think the stone curlew has decreased since I have been 

 here, some twenty years. I see as many as ever, but plantations have got 

 up in the neighbourhood year by year, tending to take from its wildness, 

 and so diminish both the curlew and ring dotterel. On my warren they are 

 quite as numerous, when the season is favourable, but its bleakness is 

 undiminished.' From the Feltwell country, also, I hesir tlie same satis- 

 iiictory account from my friend Mr. Newcome, who states that in the 

 autumn of 1867 he saw about a hundred and fifty in one flock on his own 

 estate. From these facts, then, we may conclude that if, on the eastern 

 side of the county, the stone curlew, in a few yeai-s time, should cease to 

 be reckoned amongst our summer visitants, there is little fear that, as 

 regards the southern and ^cestern portions, its presence in summer will 

 still enliven the waste for many generations to come." — P. 57. 



" Lly o^vn opportunities of observing this species have been somewhat 

 limited, but in May, 1804, in company with my friend Mr. Dk (who, as a 

 resident at that time at West Harling, was well acquainted with their 

 haunts), I had every facility, with the help of a good glass, for studying 

 their habits in a wild state. In that neighbourhood, on the open ' brecks, ' 

 the eggs are usually laid on some slightly rising ground, whence a good look 

 out is kept, and where it is almost impossible to come upon the birds 

 by surprise. If the exact spot is known, long before any near approach 

 can be made, the old bird may be seen to rise slowly to its feet, and with 



