In the Neighbourhood of Salisbury. 



179 



which, even then, was too notable a thing* to allow it to pass by 

 uncom mem orated. But even this source of testimony would very 

 soon (if it has not already) passed away, while in turn we should 

 have been dependent only on the memories of those who, not being* 

 eye-witnesses themselves, were still able to speak of the records of 

 the occurrence of the Bustard, as detailed to them by their fathers, 

 or fathers' fathers. Of such memories the following* instances would 

 have then been our only source of information. The Rev. T, 

 Wyndham, in a letter received on the 10th instant, says, "In an 

 entry in my grandfather's game book, dated 1801, he speaks of 

 seeing a hen Bustard for the first time on the wing*, whilst riding* 

 to Upavon. This my brother (W. Wyndham, Esq., of Dinton 

 House) thinks will be of interest to you." Again, Mr. John 

 Waters, of Salisbury, kindly writes me, "I well remember having* 

 heard my father say, on many occasions, that his elder brother, Mr. 

 John Waters, who, somewhere about 1803, 1804, was living* at and 

 renting* Normanton Farm, some two miles this [or, the Salisbury] 

 side of Amesbury, in the valley, killed from a cart the last of the 

 Bustards seen about at that date. I have also a recollection of 

 hearing that there were several killed about and previous to that 

 date." This bird was sent to the then owner of the Amesbury 

 estate — the Duke of Queensberry — who, it would appear, could 

 not have been a very ardent ornithologist, as the sender never 

 even received any thanks for it, and it must be left to the reader's 

 imagination to decide whether His Grace's memory or ornithological 

 taste was in fault. This would seem to have been, as far as I can 

 ascertain, the last Bustard recorded as having been seen on our 

 plain during that generation. 



We must not, however, imagine that this was veritably the last 

 of the Mohicans that still found refuge in our inhospitable island. 

 Long after 1804, Norfolk and Suffolk were strongholds of the 

 Bustard. About the year 1812, as recorded by Mr. Stevenson, in 

 his " Birds of Norfolk," there was a fine drove of some forty birds 

 in that county, while for nearly two decades still further on there 

 were two recognised droves that frequented stated parts in the two 

 counties, consisting of eighteen or a score each, which manfully held 



