The Zoologist — February, 1871. 2477 



In SomersetsJiire. — The great bastard, although formerly a resi- 

 dent species, is now so rarely met with in Great Britain that any 

 details in connection with its irregular visits cannot fail to interest 

 naturalists. In September last I was in Somersetshire, and on the 

 27th of that month, whilst journeying by rail from Bishop's Lydeard 

 to Wells, I unexpectedly fell in with a great bustard on the low flat 

 country by Shapwick, My attention was first arrested by seeing 

 the bird crouch at the approach of the train, it was then at a 

 considerable distance, and, seeing only the head and back, 1 at 

 first thought it must be a pheasant. Had it been in any other part 

 of the county, I should probably not have looked at it longer; but, 

 as there was no copse in sight and no hedgerows (the country 

 being divided by dykes as in the Fens), it struck me as being a 

 most unlikely place for pheasants. I was thus led to keep my eyes 

 upon the bird until the train had decreased by two-thirds the 

 distance between us. Frightened, no doubt, at the approaching 

 noise, the bird then jumped up and ran swiftly away, exhibiting to 

 my astonishment the long legs and white flanks of a bustard. — 

 J. E. Hariing, in 'Field'' of January lUh. 



In Wiltshire.— Mx. Lywood, of the Manor Farm, Maddington, 

 brought me yesterday a great bustard, which was killed the pre- 

 vious day (23rd instant) near Maddington, a village in the heart of 

 Salisbury Plain : he had observed the birds, three in number, the 

 previous day, and watched them for some time, but having his gun 

 loaded only with ordinary shot, did not fire for fear of disturbing 

 them : it was shot by Stephen Smith, a labourer in his employ, who 

 was bird-keeping. Smith put a marble into his gun, and when he 

 fired the three birds were over 130 yards from him; the marble 

 broke the wing of one, and after it fell one of its companions 

 passed round near the spot, not more than fifteen yards from the 

 man's head, and he described its flight as similar to that of a 

 curlew. The bird, which is a female, is in excellent plumage and 

 very fair condition, although she had nothing whatever in her 

 crop. Weight 7|- fts.; spread of wings 62 inches; and 31 inches 

 from beak to end of tail. Mr. Lywood has presented the specimen 

 to our Museum, and it was this morning sent to Mr. King, of 

 Warminster, to be preserved. — Henry Blackmore ; Crane Street^ 

 Salisbury y January 25, 1871. 



SECOND SERIES — VOL. VI. 



