little cliance for the Bustard to enjoy the solitude in 

 which he delights. 



For an exhaustive account of the last days of our 

 bird as a resident in Norfolk I must refer my readers 

 to the second volume of Stevenson's admirable work, 

 ' The Birds of Norfolk ' ; the author treats his subject 

 not only with a minute accuracy of detail but with a 

 pervading expression of regret at the virtual extinction 

 of this grand living ornament of his native county, that 

 appeals to all the best feelings of those who love birds 

 for their own sake. From this account it seems that 

 the last eggs of the Great Bustard found in Norfolk 

 were taken in the neighbourhood of Great Massingham 

 in 1835 ; and in all probability these were the last laid 

 in England by one of these birds in a state of freedom. 



The wolds of Yorkshire and Lincoln, and the downs 

 of several of our southern counties, besides the well- 

 known favourite localities in East Anglia, were, within 

 the memory of man, frequented by the Great Bustard ; 

 but now-a-days the scanty records of its occurrence in 

 our country are obituai'y notices, generally setting forth 

 how Mr. A, shot an invariably " splendid " specimen, 

 and how the " accomplished taxidermist " Mr. B. is 

 engaged in " mounting " it for the collection of Mr. C. 



I am very glad, however, to be able to record a 

 notable and most praiseworthy exception to the usual 

 treatment of a Bustard in England, in the case of a fine 

 male that visited the fen country of West Norfolk in 

 1876 ; the owner of the locality in which this bird made 

 its appearance at once took measures to prevent its 

 being disturbed, and was at least rewarded by having 



