OCCASIONAL NOTES. 25 
Great BustarD 1x CornwaLu.—The following letter from my friend 
Mr. Clogg, of Looe, relative to the recent occurrence of the Great Bustard 
in Cornwall, will, I am sure, be read with interest :—‘* December 12, 1879. 
Last night, between nine and ten o'clock, I had brought to me a living Great 
Bustard (Otis tarda), for identification, as well as to inquire if I thought it 
could be kept alive. On looking it over I found it in a most miserably 
starved condition, produced, I believe, chiefly from either a wound or disease 
of the ankle-joint. The bird had not been shot, but was caught by a 
spaniel dog, by which, I believe, it was much injured, as it could not stand 
or make the least endeavour to escape when placed on the ground. It 
appeared to be in great pain, so I reluctantly recommended it should 
be killed, which was done, and I believe it is to be ‘set up.’ As you 
may suppose, from the exhausted state of the bird, the plumage is not in the 
most perfect condition, and the dog in catching it tore out almost the whole 
of the tail; but the feathers have been preserved, so I hope that defect may 
be somewhat repaired. The bird was taken on Wayland Talland, a farm 
about a mile from Looe. It was first observed there on December 9th, 
and was seen about until the day it was captured. No doubt the injury to 
the leg was the reason it could not make its escape from the dog. I think, 
from the size of the bird and its plumage, it is a female, but as I only saw 
it by candle-light, and had but little time to examine it, I cannot positively 
say.” I have since had the pleasure of seeing this bird at the shop of Mr. 
Peacock, animal preserver of Plymouth, to whom it was sent for preservation, 
and from its small size and general appearance have no doubt of its being a 
female, as Mr. Clogg supposed, and also think with him that it could not 
have lived, having apparently been injured across the back, where several 
feathers had been lost ; but it is otherwise in fairly good plumage, and the 
downy bases of the feathers of the usual beautiful rose colour, which, after 
death, soon fades to yellowish brown. Its extreme measurement across the 
wings is a little above five feet four inches.—J. Garcomss (Durnford Street, 
Stonehonse). 
Great Bustarp In Jersey.—A correspondent in Jersey, writing on 
December 9th, states that on the previous day a female Great Bustard was 
shot in the parish of St. Clement’s by Mr. A. Messaray, of Broad Street. 
It weighed nine pounds, and measured three feet in length, with a wing 
(from carpal joint) of nineteen inches. Since then he has heard that 
another was killed on the same day near the same place. The two birds 
were observed feeding in some broccoli, and are stated to be very much alike 
in plumage, weight. and measurement. Possibly they may be both young 
birds. They are being preserved for their respective owners, and I hope to 
receive further particulars.—J. E. Harrine. 
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