The Finding of a Treasure.



263



A solitary Great Bustard, reported from Norfolk two or three

years ago, was believed to be the sole surviving remnant of a com¬

pany of seventeen (?) birds turned out by Lord Walsingham some

few years before.


The re-establishment of this noble bird in its old haunts in

England has been a dream with many who regret its loss, and some

attempts have been made in this direction, but each time with dis¬

appointing results. In the opinion of the present writer no efforts—

on however large a scale—are likely to meet with success. Those

adverse agencies which acted before would act again, only “more so,”

and this applies to the birds whether pinioned or full-winged. Take

the most naturally favourable of their old haunts left—take Salisbury

Plain. Consider the ease with which a male bird in display could be

there detected, and across how great a distance ! Think of the foes

to pinioned birds—of foxes, dogs, men ! Even if by any chance a

hen did save her nest, could she ever hope to bring up her young

against such odds? If, on the other hand, the experiment were

made with full-winged birds, each would quickly be shot in one part

or another of the country. (We know what happened w 7 hen the

wise men of Gotham tried to keep their Cuckoo in the tree !)


It is to be hoped that any landowner who may contemplate

again liberating Great Bustards will not sacrifice such noble birds in

this way, for the experiment is foredoomed to failure, but instead

will set about making “ pheasantries ” for them on a large scale :

for the best we can now hope is that some one may have the

good fortune to hatch and rear the Great Bustard in a semi-

domesticated state.



THE FINDING OF A TREASURE.


By Reginald Phillipps.


Over half-a-century ago—we were at lunch one day when

“ Jones ” was announced; and in he came with that look of pent-up

importance which betokens the man who has something to say and

won’t be happy until he has said it ; and scarcely waiting until he

had taken a seat, he burst forth, addressing an elder brother of

mine ,—“ I’ve just been over at Innes’ farm, and he says there’s a



