656 
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 
xvur. 
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 
Recent Occurrence of the Great Bustard (Oris tarda) in 
Norfolk. — In submitting these brief notes on the recent occurrence 
of the Great Bustard in Norfolk, I have much pleasure in alluding 
to the valuable treatises on the life history of this noble-looking 
bird, as an indigenous species of this County, that have been 
presented to us by our local ornithologists, especially Messrs. 
Stevenson and Southwell, to whom ornithologists in general owe a 
debt of gratitude. Many of the Members of this Society, I feel 
sure, have formed the acquaintance of and feel great interest in 
the magnificent group of these birds so fittingly preserved in the 
Norwich Museum, representing as they do the last killed examples of 
the indigenous race of Norfolk birds, the last of the race or “drove” 
of which ceased to exist about the year 1838, since which period, up 
to the present time, the Great Bustard, as a migrant only, has on rare 
occasions been reported to have been seen in this county, and in 
one or more instances has been captured ; these were always, 
I think, female birds. The minds of local ornithologists were 
greatly exercised by the appearance of a grand male bird in 
Feltwell Fen, near Brandon, in 1876, and the many unsuccessful 
attempts that were made to induce the stranger to take up his 
abode here, by giving it a companion, and the great efforts put 
forth by a late President of this Society (Mr. H. M. Upcher) to 
protect the illustrious visitor, must be fresh in the memory of all 
interested in the subject. 
With reference to the bird herewith exhibited, the following 
ai’e the notes I made at the time it passed into my hands : — 
Saturday, February 2nd, 1894, 2 p.m. Two young men called 
upon me at my shop ; one having a frail in his hand, lie said: 
“ I have a curious bird here that I killed yesterday, and 
want you to tell me the name of it.” The next instant I had 
the pleasure of seeing before me this beautiful specimen. The 
