!SS Mr. W. H. St. Quintin,


species takes its distinctive name. But on a few occasions this

winter I have found one or other in a totally diffeient posture,

perhaps a courting posture. On one of these occasions Toni

was within a foot of me, and I noted him carefully. He was

standing very tight and upright, the wing-butts hunched and a

little forward and clear of the body, the primaries pointing

straight downwards with the points touching the toes, and the

head drawn up but with the bill, close against the chest, pointing

like the wings straight down ; and in this quaint but very

strained position he was warbling forth the sweetest of sweet

notes.


Although not delicate for foreign birds, they do not like

severe weather. On the other hand, they are very fond of fresh

air and cold water.


The male White-throated Ground-Thrush is a tame hand¬

some bird with a pleasing and almost ceaseless song, lives on

the simplest insectivorous food with an occasional visit to the

fruit saucer, and is absolutely happy aud contented in confine¬

ment; and I have never regretted the day on which I added Tom

and Tim to my collection. It is from necessity, not from choice,

that they remain old bachelors—a lady White-throat has not

yet come my way.



THE GREAT BUSTARD.


By W. H. St. Quintin, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U.


I have more than once referred to my Bustards in the

Magazine, and I have always hoped that one day I might have

proclaimed that I had been successful in getting this fine bird to

rear young. But alas! I have within the last few weeks had the

great misfortune to lose by an accident my old male, which I

had kept here for nearly thirteen years; and as it will probably

be very long before I can replace him, I may as well tell how I

was very near succeeding some three years ago. As far as I can

learn, though Bustards have of course been often kept in

captivit}' in England, young have not been hatched from eggs

laid in confinement in this country. Early in the last century,



