Si. Qiiiulin : Some Aviciiltural Notes. 113 



actually managed to destroy ele\-en Great Bustards at one shot 

 in the East Riding. 



When we recollect that at most twenty years ctjnverted a 

 splendid species, fairly plentiful in England where conditions 

 -suited it, into a mere memory, it is to be hoped that we shall 

 never again make such a deplorable mistake ; and that all 

 true naturalists will discourage those two mischievous argu- 

 ments — ' Why ! what does it matter ? There are plenty more ! " 

 or ■' If I don't take it someone else will ; I'll have it ! ' 



I will next refer to the Little Bustard, of which I ha\e 

 two males and three females, which came to me in the plumage 

 of the first year, when the sexes much resemble each other. 



After the first moult in the second autumn, the vermicula- 

 tions on the feathers of the male's upper parts, especially of the 

 shoulders, are finer than in the case of the female ; and hence- 

 forth the sexes are easily distinguished at all seasons. The 

 striking breeding dress is assumed by the males at the end of 

 their second year, but my hen birds did not lay till they were 

 a year older. 



In the past summer, for the first time, one made a nest, 

 merely a ' scratch ' in a bunch of coarse grass, laid three eggs, 

 and sat steadily. But in the end, though the eggs contained 

 chicks, none were hatched. No doubt some specially severe 

 storm of that miserable season drove her off the nest, and the 

 eggs got chilled. The other females dropped eggs in the 

 enclosure, which were put under hens. Young were hatched, 

 but we could do nothing with them. They would not pick up 

 food of any kind, nor take it when offered them. One was kept 

 alive a week, by being crammed, and then died. In a favour- 

 able summer I think these birds might be bred, but the young, 

 if hatched, must be left to the parents, who, no doubt, like the 

 Rails and Cranes, pick up food, and hold it for the young to take. 

 Thesebirds undoubtedly pair,whatever the Great Bustards do. 



Cranes are very interesting birds to keep. Most of them 

 soon become very tame, and show much intelligence ; and 

 except the African species, they bear our climate, if they have 

 some shelter in the worst of weather, very well. 



Though I have representatives of seven species, I have only 

 successfully reared the Demoiselle. This is curious, for several 

 other species have bred in this country (five species at Woburn 

 this year), while the only other Demoiselles reared, except at 

 Scampston, were at Lord Jersey's place, Osterley, in 1797. 



1910 Mar. I. 



