BRITISH BIRDS. 103 



Norfolk,' vol. ii. p. 1, with the advantage of reference to Professor Newton's 

 notes, that I shall only mention one anecdote in addition. 



About 1811 (though this date is uncertain) a shooting-party was held 

 at Kingston Lacy, eight miles from Blandford, Dorsetshire, belonging to Mr. 

 Henry Bankes, of Corfe Castle. Among the gentlemen was the late Sir 

 William Oglander, Bart., who pursued a different beat to the rest. At the 

 end of the day each recounted his experience ; and the question being put, 

 " Well, Sir William, what have you shot V he answered, " Only seven 

 Bustards." Clearly at that time the seven Bustards, though becoming, we 

 must suppose, rare, were not thought much of by a Dorsetshire shooter, or 

 as very wonderful ! 



Mr. Stevenson puts the extermination of the bird in Norfolk as taking 

 place in 1838. According to Dietrichsen and Hannay's Nautical and 

 Astronomical Almanacs, Bustard- shooting commences September 1, and 

 ends S. Chad's day, March 2nd, — a circumstance no longer necessary, alas ! 

 for insertion in any thing of the kind. The bird appears to have been 

 thought something of in 1512 ; for in the ' Percy Household Book ' of that 

 date, though no price is fixed, it is named, " but for my Lord's own mess at 

 principal feastes, and none other tyme, except my Lord's commandment be 

 otherwise " (' Antiquarian Repertory,' vol. iv. : Thompson's ' Hist, of 

 Boston,' p. 676). 



In ' Musseum Tradescantianum,' published 1656, p. 4, we have :• — 

 " The Bustard, as big as a Turkey, usually taken by greyhounds on New- 

 market Heath." 



