OTIDID^. 289 



of Plymouth, and was supposed to have been the one killed near Buckland Monachorum 

 (M. Marsh-Dunn in lift. Aug. 21st, 1883). Mr. J, Gatcombe, however, states (in litt. 

 Sept. 3rd, 1883) that there is no doubt that Mr. Rodd's specimen is the genuine one. 



A Crane was seen for five or six days on the high level fields near the Start Light- 

 house in September 1851) (H. N., Zool, 18ii9, p. 1866 ; and J. H, G., Zool. 1871, p. 2(i83). 

 It was seen by Mr. Popplestone and others frequenting a large field on Start Farm, 

 keeping near the centre of the field out of gunshot (H. N., MS. Notes). " Oranmere 

 Pool, on Dartmoor, is supposed by some to be so named from the resort of Cranes there 

 in ancient times " (E, M., Eowe's Peramb. Dartmoor, p. 231). But this we have 

 already shown to be an error. 



Mr. E. H. Kodd quotes Dr. Couch as his authority for one or two Cranes 

 having been procured in Cornwall, Id Dorsetshire, Mr. Mansel-Pleydell 

 knew of three ; the last of these Avas shot on the banks of the Wareham 

 river in May 1SG9. 



Vast flocks of Common Cranes pass northwards into Europe every year 

 in March, returning south again in October, flying in the formation of an 

 inverted Y very high in the air, uttering loud trumpet notes. They are 

 found during the summer on all the extensive marshes of Northern and 

 Central Europe, as high up as Norway and Lapland. Canon Tristram has 

 recorded the numbers which pass over Palestine : " clouds of these enor- 

 mous birds quite darkened the air towards evening " (Nat. Hist, of Bible, 

 p. 240). 



Family OTIDIDiE. 

 THE BUSTARDS. 



The Bustards unite the Alectorides or Cranes with the 

 Limicola?, or shore-frequenting birds, through the Stone- 

 Curlew, Thick-knee, or Norfolk Plover, and the true Plovers. 

 They are conspicuous for their rapid walking, and for the 

 speed with which they run over the level plains and downs 

 that are their usual haunts, seldom taking to wing even 

 when pursued. 



We have three species, all of them, at the present day, 

 only occasional stragglers to this kingdom, although one 

 of them, the Great Bustard, used formerly to be indigenous 

 in some parts of the country, and was, perhaps, the noblest 

 of our native birds. The increased cultivation of waste 

 lands, together with the constant persecution of the birds 

 and the destruction of their eggs, combined to remove them 



U 



