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THE BIRDS OF HAMPSHIRE. 
Wise, writing of this species in his " New Forest " in 
1862, says it "feeds on the young shoots of heather and 
larch, seeds of grass, blackberries, and acorns, and I have 
seen it repeatedly perching on the hawthorns for the sake 
of the berries. The ' heath poult ' of the Forest." 
The Earl of Malmesbury has two specimens in his 
collection, one of which was killed by Mr. Herbert Gilbert 
in Pussex Copse ; the other also from the district, but 
without any particulars. 
Dr. Rake has eggs of this bird in his collection which 
were taken near Fordingbridge. 
Mr. Meade-Waldo gives full particulars in the " Victoria 
History of Hants" (1900), of the distribution of this 
species in the New Forest, but says : " The stock now is 
almost entirely confined to the northern portions of the 
Forest, and it is hard to estimate their numbers, but they 
are, unfortunately, few. Two or three broods at least are 
reared in a year, perhaps more, so there is a possibility of 
the stock being revived again, and it is ardently hoped 
that it may be." 
Mr. John Stares informs us that there was once a 
colony of black game on the east side of Southampton, 
about Titchfield Common, which only became extinct 
when the common land was enclosed. 
The Earl of Portsmouth attempted to introduce this 
species on his estate at Hurstbourne, and he has kindly 
given us the following particulars : — " I imported some live 
black game from Northumberland, where they were hatched 
and reared under hens ; they were turned down as young 
birds here in September. I had one good brood the 
following year in the outer park, which is across the 
water, and bounded by the Andover Lodge. 
The birds, Jiowever, would not stay ; they were carefully 
