The Zoologist— February, 1871, 2473 



additional observations have been made in different parts of the country, 

 and I trust the pubHcation of this prehminarj paper will induce still further 

 inquiries, such for instance as to whether there have been more flocks than 

 one, the cause of their immigration, the direction of their flight, &c. It 

 is essential that the ' Zoologist ' should preserve all such details.-Edward 

 Newman.] 



In Middlesex.— k few days since I had the pleasure of seeing, 

 in the flesli, a splendid specimen of the great bustard {Olis tarda). 

 The bird was shot by a labouring man named Burnham, at Felt- 

 ham, near Hounslovv, on the 28th of December, and was purchased 

 by Mr. Alfred Crystall, an industrious and intelligent birdstuffer, 

 of Hammersmith. It was in beautiful plumage, especially the tips 

 of the wing and tail feathers, proving that it could not have escaped 

 from confinement, even if it were possible for it to have been kept 

 in such slate. It weighed eight pounds. Length from tip of bill 

 to the end of the tail 35 inches; from lip to tip of extended wings 

 5 feet 7 inches. The sex a female, and apparently not a very old 

 bird. No food was found in its crop. It has been set up hand- 

 somely, and would be a great ornament in any ornithological 

 collection. — Jflwes Button; 2, Theresa Place, Hammersmith, 

 January 11, 1871. 



Tlie same Specimen.— k iew days ago there was brought to the 

 'Field' office a specimen of the great bustard [Otis tarda) that had 

 been shot at Feltham, Middlesex, on Wednesday, the 28th of 

 December, 1870. Mr. Tegetmeier's attention being drawn to it, 

 it was exhibited by that gentleman at the meeting of the Zoological 

 Society on Tuesday last. The bird was a female, and in rather 

 poor condition as regards flesh. It bore every evidence of being a 

 wild bird, and was accepted as such by Mr. Harting, Mr. Dresser 

 and other practical ornithologists present at the meeting, and also 

 by Professor A. Newton.— £'rf<7or of ' Field; in issue of 7th Jan. 



In Northumberland.— \Yhen up at Holy Island, on the North- 

 umberland coast, last week, I heard that a great bustard had been 

 shot by Mr. Harvey, of Fenham. On inquiry I find it to be a very 

 fine large female. It is now in the possession of Mr. Gregg, of 

 Low Lynn, Northumberland. Whilst there we saw, I suppose 

 owing to the severe weather, exceptionally large numbers of Brent 

 geese, ducks and waders,, and nine swans: we obtained, amongst 

 other birds, one longtailed and numerous scaup ducks, a gray 



