Great Bustard

Otis tarda Linnaeus, 1758 (65, 0)

Photo © Kris Webb

STATUS

Palearctic. Polytypic.

OVERVIEW

Former resident, mainly Wiltshire, Dorset (Cranberry Chase), Hampshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire and the Yorkshire wolds, until land cultivation increased when the Enclosure Acts came into force during which waste land was reclaimed and drained. The species could not adapt to this habitat, being use to open treeless areas. During the reign of Henry VIII, it inhabited all the undulating plains, downs and wolds from the Bristol Channel to the Firth of Forth. It was around 1840 when the last indigenous British species was seen.

The Devon records around 1800 are classed as residents as the information given would not stand up to being a first for Britain.

In 1900 fifteen individuals from Spain were released at Thetford, Norfolk, as part of a scheme to reintroduce them, and subsequently were seen outwith that county.

The listing below relates to the individuals that are considered immigrants.

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RECORDS

1). 1820 Norfolk Horsey, in off the sea, female, shot, undated, now at Castle Museum, Norwich.

(Stevenson, 1870; Southwell, 1890; Riviere, 1930).

History Stevenson (1870 (2): 30) says: 'It is most probable that the bustard recorded by Mr. Lubbock as killed at Palling some years back, was a foreigner, on a visit, perhaps, to its then surviving relatives, but this bird (an immature male), as I was informed by the late Rev. Edward Postle who had it for some years in his possession, was killed at Horsey, near Yarmouth, and not at Palling.

Of its capture, Mr. Postle, in 1865, sent me the following very interesting particulars:- "It was killed, I should say, in 1820, at Horsey by the sea, and was seen to come off the sea and to drop into a turnip field, where it remained till a farmer, a relative of a friend of my father's, got his gun and shot it. It thus found its way into my father's collection at Colney".'

Southwell, Editor (1890 (3): 403) in Stevenson's Birds of Norfolk, under 'Appendix' says: 'Through the liberality of the representatives of the late Miss Postle, the bustard shot at Horsey in 1820 (Vol. II. pp. 30, 37) has found a home in the Norwich Museum.'

2). 1843 Cornwall Goonhilly Downs, The Lizard, female, shot, about 15th February.

(E. H. Rodd, Zoologist 1843: 144-145; "West Briton" 17th Feb., 1843; Yarrell, 1845; E. H. Rodd, Transactions of the Penzance Natural History Society 1: 416; E. H. Rodd, Zoologist 1870: 2241; Johns, 1874; Harting, 1880; Yarrell, 1871-85; Penhallurick, 1978).

History E. H. Rodd (1843) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. I. p. 144-145, says: 'I beg to apprize you of the recent capture in this county of a female Great Bustard, which was observed for many days in a turnip-field adjoining a large tract of open moor country between Helston and the Lizard Point. In point of dimensions it answers the description given by authors of females; but I observe that the whole of the neck and fore part of the breast is light bluish grey, the upper part of the head being the same, with a few brown marks; the under parts are not of a pure white, nor are the coverts of the wings, the white being a good deal clouded with a shade of brocoli brown. This I believe, is the first recorded example of the species in Cornwall.'

E. H. Rodd (1850) in the Transactions of the Penzance Natural History Society, 1st series, Vol. I. p. 416, dated May 1850, adds: '...now preserved in a private collection at Penzance.'

E. H. Rodd of Penzance (1870) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. V. p. 2241, says: 'One observed and afterwards captured on Goonhilly, Lizard district; this proved to be a female, and is now in a private collection at Penzance.'

Harting, Editor (1880) in Rodd's Birds of Cornwall, says: 'In March 1843 a female Great Bustard was observed for several days in a turnip field adjoining a large tract of open moorland at Goonhilly, between Helston and the Lizard, and was eventually shot. In regard to dimensions, this bird, which is preserved in my own collection, answers the descriptions given by most authors of the hen Bustard, but the whole of the neck and forepart of the breast is light-bluish grey, the upper part of the head being the same, with a few brown marks. The under parts are not of a pure white, nor are the coverts of the wings, the white being much suffused with a shade of brocoli brown.'

Johns (1874 2nd ed.) adds: '...a turnip-field belonging to Joseph Lyle, Esq., of Bonython.'

Admitted by Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 205, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds.

3). 1849 Wiltshire Salisbury Plain, seen, 31st August.

(G. R. Waterhouse, Zoologist 1849: 2590-91; W. Yarrell, Proceedings of the Linnean Society 2: 209; J. E. Harting, Field 14th Jan., 1871: 19; Yarrell, 1871-85; Smith, 1887; Buxton, 1981; Wiltshire Ornithological Society, 2007).

History G. R. Waterhouse of Bayswater (1849) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. VII. pp. 2590-91, dated 8th September, 1849, says: 'I have had the good fortune to see the Great Bustard on Salisbury Plain. It was on the 9th of August last that I made a little trip, with a party of friends, to Stonehenge, and upon our return, we had proceeded but a short distance before the bird in question made its appearance. It must have been about half-past six, or perhaps seven o'clock, in the evening, when we first saw it. We had then just passed a large plantation of firs, which forms a conspicuous object from Stonehenge.

From the first moment of seeing the bird till its ultimate disappearance, seemed to be a considerable time, but as it had traversed a great distance whilst in view, the length of time was probably deceiving, and perhaps was not more than eight or ten minutes. During this time, it was almost constantly on the wing, flying with a heavy, but tolerably rapid flight, and at an average height of about twenty feet above the ground. But once only did it approach within gun-shot of us; it then crossed the road in front of us, and as I sat in front of the carriage in which we were travelling, I saw its colours very distinctly. I asked the driver if he knew what that bird was, and he said he did not, and had never seen such a bird in his life. I then asked him what he imagined was the size of the bird, and his answer was, "it can't be far short of a turkey".

I afterwards put the latter question to the party within the carriage, and a lady said, she "thought it was about as large as a turkey". I then told them the bird was no other than the Great Bustard.

The bird was evidently very shy, and I should say it would be very difficult, to approach within gun-shot of it. Once when it settled (which it did two or three times before we ultimately lost sight of it), although at a great distance from the road - I should think full a quarter of a mile - it soon rose again when the distance was but little shortened, it having settled a little in advance of us. It then took a long flight, and again settled, almost directly ahead of us, close to the edge of a corn-field, and at a still greater distance; I then saw the bird for the first time on the ground, its pale colouring rendering it visible, still the distance was so great that I could not have felt certain that the pale object I saw was really the bird (for it did not run) had it not got up again whilst I was looking at it; it then flew over the brow of a hill and was seen no more.

On other occasions when it went down, I only concluded it had settled, from its getting up again from the same spot. Even when the bird was nearest to us, I could see neither its head nor its feet, and this somewhat surprised me, for I fully expected the neck would be outstretched when the bird was on the wing, and that perhaps, the feet would hang down. Judging from the size, I suspect the bird was a female.'

W. Yarrell (1853) in the Proceedings of the Linnean Society, Vol. II. p. 209, says: 'Three instances only of the appearance of the Bustard in England have been noticed by Mr. Yarrell since the publication of the second edition of his History of British Birds; one, a female, recorded by G. R. Waterhouse, Esq., of the British Museum, as occurring to him in August 1849 on Salisbury Plain.'

Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 205, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds,adds: 'One, believed by its size to be a female, was seen on Salisbury Plain by Mr. G. R. Waterhouse, of the British Museum....'

Smith (1887: 358) says: 'On August 31st, 1849, Mr. Waterhouse of the British Museum, a well-known naturalist, was returning with a party of friends from Stonehenge, at about seven in the evening, when a Great Bustard rose and flew with a heavy but tolerably rapid flight, at about twenty feet above the ground....'

Comment Last day of Summer is a strange date for this winter visitor. Possibly one of the East Anglia resident birds. George Robert Waterhouse (1810-88) founded the Entomological Society of London in 1833 becoming joint Curator. He took the same position at the Royal Institution of Liverpool in 1835 and exchanged it a year later to be at the Zoological Society of London, where his early work was cataloguing mammals. In November 1843 he then became an assistant in the mineralogical department of the BMNH, aspiring to keeper in 1851 until retirement in 1880. So not really an ornithologist.

4). 1849 Wiltshire Savernake Forest, shot, undated.

(J. E. Harting, Field 14th Jan., 1871: 19; Wiltshire Ornithological Society, 2007).

History J. E. Harting (1871) in The Field of 14th Jan., Vol. XXXVII. p. 19, says: 'Two specimens recorded in the Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine have escaped the notice of Mr. Stevenson: one was shot in Savernake Forest in 1849, and another at Chisleden, Wilts, in 1851.'

Comment Stevenson of Norwich had listed all the previous records.

5). 1850 Kent Lydd, female, shot, 4th January.

(F. Plomley, Zoologist 1850: 2700; W. Yarrell, Proceedings of the Linnean Society 2: 209; Yarrell, 1871-85; Ticehurst, 1909; Harrison, 1953).

History F. Plomley of Maidstone (1850) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. VIII. p. 2700, dated 16th January, 1850, says: 'I have been fortunate enough to obtain that almost extinct bird in England, the Great Bustard, which was shot at Lydd, in Romney Marsh, on January 4th.

The man who shot it informs me that he had in his garden a wounded wild goose, and that the bustard (which he supposed to be a goose also) had been seen several times, by himself and others, steadily flying over his garden, and that on the morning of January 4th, as he was standing at his back door, he saw the bird at a distance flying direct to him; he immediately stepped into his house, got his gun, and killed the bird as it was passing over his wounded goose. I believe this to be the only instance of its being killed in Kent; but from the information I obtained during the many years of my residence in Romney Marsh, I think the great bustard was not uncommon formerly in that locality.

My specimen is a female, and in beautiful plumage. It measures, from the crown of the head to the tip of the tail, 2 feet 6¼ inches; across the breast, with the wings closed, 10½ inches; from the extremity of one wing to the other, when expanded, 5½ feet. The crop contained a quantity of vegetable matter, principally sea-kale.'

W. Yarrell (1853) in the Proceedings of the Linnean Society, Vol. II. p. 209, says: 'Three instances only of the appearance of the Bustard in England have been noticed by Mr. Yarrell since the publication of the second edition of his History of British Birds...a second, also a female, shot at Lydd in Romney Marsh in January 1850, and now in the possession of Dr. Plomley, F.L.S.'

Admitted by Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 205, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, and accepted locally (Ticehurst 1909: 404; Harrison 1953).

6). 1851 Wiltshire Chiseldon, shot, undated.

(J. E. Harting, Field 14th Jan., 1871: 19; Wiltshire Ornithological Society, 2007).

History J. E. Harting (1871) in The Field of 14th Jan., Vol. XXXVII. p. 19, says: 'Two specimens recorded in the Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine have escaped the notice of Mr. Stevenson: one was shot in Savernake Forest in 1849, and another at Chisleden [sic], Wilts, in 1851.'

Accepted locally adding the location as Chiseldon (Wiltshire Ornithological Society 2007: 321).

Comment Stevenson had listed all the previous records.

7). 1851 Devon Bratton Clovelly, female, shot, 31st December.

(J. Gatcombe, Morris and Bree's Naturalist 2: 33; W. Yarrell, Proceedings of the Linnean Society 2: 209; J. Gatcombe, Zoologist 1871: 2475; Yarrell, 1871-85; D'Urban & Mathew, 1895).

History John Gatcombe of Plymouth (1852) in Morris and Bree's edition of The Naturalist, Vol. II. p. 33, dated 5th January, 1852, says: 'On Saturday last I was much interested in examining, at the house of Mr. Drew, Taxidermist, Stonehouse, a fine specimen of the Great Bustard, sent to him for preservation, by J. G. Newton, Esq., Millaton Bridestow, Devon, with a note stating it was shot some days previously, (on December 31st).

The bird being perfectly fresh, and Mr. Drew having only just completed the operation of skinning it when I called, I had the opportunity of ascertaining the sex, and examining the contents of its stomach. It proved a female, and the stomach contained a large quantity of turnip leaves, mixed with several flat flinty stones about the size of a sixpence. The base of the feathers on the breast and back were of a beautiful rose-color.'

W. Yarrell (1853) in the Proceedings of the Linnean Society, Vol. II. p. 209, says: 'Three instances only of the appearance of the Bustard in England have been noticed by Mr. Yarrell since the publication of the second edition of his History of British Birds...and the third shot on the 31st of December, 1851, in Devonshire, and now in the possession of J. G. Newton, Esq., of Millaton Bridestow.'

J. Gatcombe of Stonehouse, Devon (1871) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. VI. p. 2475, dated 6th January 1871, says: '...The last Great Bustard killed in North Devon previous to the above mentioned occurred at Bratton Clovelly in 1851, and was recorded by me in the Naturalist: I saw that bird in the flesh, and examined the contents of its stomach, which consisted of turnip-leaves mixed with a quantity of flat stones, some about the size of a sixpence. The down at the base of the feathers of this as well as those of the Braunton birds were of a beautiful rose-colour, which soon faded to a dull yellow.'

Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 205, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, adds: '...became the property of Mr. J. G. Newton, of Millaton Bridestow (Naturalist, 1852, p. 33).'

8). 1854 Cornwall Near St Austell, female, shot, January.

(Anon., Royal Cornwall Gazette 27th Jan., 1854: 5; Bullmore, 1867; E. H. Rodd, Zoologist 1870: 2241-42; Yarrell, 1871-85; Penhallurick, 1978).

History Anon (1854) in the Royal Cornwall Gazette of 27th January, 1854, p. 5, says: 'An excellent specimen of that very rare and beautiful bird the "Great Bustard", (Otis tarda of Pennant and other naturalists), was lately shot near St. Austell and was forwarded to Mr. P. Chapman, taxidermist, of Falmouth, for the purpose of being preserved, and which has been very successfully done.

The bird is an excellent specimen of this now nearly extinct race, at one period so plentiful in this and the adjoining kingdoms, and which was always the first bird named in the lists of such as considered game. - Yarrell, in his celebrated and well-known work on British Birds, states, respecting the Great Bustard as follows: - Early in February, 1843, E. H. Rodd, Esq., of Penzance, sent me word, that a female of the Great Bustard had been shot only a few days before, in an open plain between Helston and the Lizard Point. The bird had been observed for some days in a field of turnips close by.

This is considered to be the first capture of the Great Bustard in Cornwall, and the last recorded instance of its being killed in England. The specimen just preserved by Mr. Chapman is also a female bird, and measured three feet from the end of the beak to the tip of the tail; the male bird is said to be usually 45 inches in length.

Yarrell states that two were sold in Covent Garden market in 1818, for which 12 guineas were paid. They were purchased for the purpose of being preserved. They both appear to have been trapped, and caught by the legs.'

Bullmore (1867: 26) says: 'A specimen of this species was brought to me for identification in the year 1854. It was shot near St Austell, and sent to Mr. Chapman for preservation.'

E. H. Rodd of Penzance (1870) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. V. pp. 2241-42, says: '...Another example of the Great Bustard was obtained from the immediate neighbourhood of St Austell, near Polgooth mine, in the month of January, 1854, and which was recorded in Cornish papers; it was reported to be a female: the bird was preserved at Falmouth, by Mr. Chapman, and the owner, Mr. Williams, butcher, of St Austell.'

Harting, Editor (1880: 79) in Rodd's Birds of Cornwall, says: 'Another Great Bustard, also a hen bird, was shot near Polgooth Mine in the neighbourhood of St. Austell, in January 1854; and was taken to Dr. Bullmore of Falmouth for identification. It was carefully preserved by Mr. Chapman for the collection of Mr. Williams of St. Austell.'

Admitted by Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 205, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds.

9). 1854 Cumbria Lees Hill, Lanercost, female, shot, 8th March, now at Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

(T. J. Bold, Zoologist 1854: 4407; T. Armstrong, Morris and Bree's Naturalist 6: 116; Hancock, 1874; Yarrell, 1871-85; J. T. T. Reed, Naturalist 13: 76; Macpherson, 1892; Howse, 1899; Bolam, 1912; Hutcheson, 1986).

History Thomas John Bold of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (1854) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XII. p. 4407, dated 3rd July, 1854, says: 'A very fine female of the Great Bustard was shot on the 8th March last, in a turnip field, at Leeshill, parish of Lanercost, Cumberland, and is now in the possession of Mr. Joseph Mowbray, innkeeper, Brampton.'

T. Armstrong of Carlisle (1856) in Morris & Bree's Naturalist, Vol. VI. p. 116, says: 'A female of this species was shot in a turnip field, near Lee's Hill, Kingswater, near Brampton, on the 8th of March, 1854.'

Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 205, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, adds: '…on the 8th of February, 1853, one was killed in a turnip field at Lees Hill, Lannercost [sic], Cumberland, and came into the possession of Mr. Joseph Mowbray, at Brampton.'

J. T. T. Reed (1887) in The Naturalist, Vol. XIII. p. 76, under the heading 'Local Specimens of Rare Birds in the Museum at Newcastle-on-Tyne', says: 'Cumberland, 8th March, 1854. Female. Purchased in 1874 at Col. Coulson's sale, at Blenkinsop, by Mr. Pattinson, and presented to Mr. Hancock, 5th December, 1875.'

Macpherson (1892: 347) adds: 'The late Mr. John Hancock saw this specimen "a few days after it had been stuffed, and while it was still soft and flexible, and the legs were unfaded; the tarsi and toes were greyish, with obscure flesh colour between the scales" (Hancock 1874, p. 95). The bird was in good condition and weighed eleven pounds. At the time it entered the possession of Joseph Mowbray, a Brampton innkeeper. Many years later it found its way into the Newcastle Museum".'

Howse (1899: 67) in his Index-Catalogue of the Birds in the Hancock Collection, says: 'Case 1. No. 1 (left). Female. Brampton, Cumberland, March 8th, 1854. Remarks. - In the year 1875 it was bought at Col. Coulson's sale at Blenkinsop [sic] Hall, by Mrs. Hugh Lee Pattinson, and presented to John Hancock, Dec. 5th, 1875. J.H.'

Bolam (1912: 504) adds: 'The female referred to by Hancock, and in Gould's Birds of Great Britain, as having been shot near Brampton, Cumberland, on 8th March, 1854, was purchased at Colonel Coulson's sale, at Blenkinsopp Castle [his residence], in 1874, by Mrs. Hugh Lee Pattinson, and having been presented by her to Mr. Hancock, is now in the Museum at Newcastle.'

Comment It would appear that Saunders made an error with February as everyone else stated March.

10.0). 1856 Wiltshire Hens Wood, immature male, shot and wounded, early January; also in Berkshire.

(A. C. Smith, Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine 3: 139-141; Im Thurn, 1870; "A Wiltshire Man" Field 14th Jan., 1871: 19; Smith, 1887; Wiltshire Ornithological Society, 2007).

History A. C. Smith (1857) in the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine, Vol. III. pp. 139-141, says: 'But the last Wiltshire Bustard, figured at the head of this paper, occurred as lately as January last, and is an undoubted male, and a very fine specimen; the particulars of its capture were as follows: - Very early in January, one of Lord Ailesbury's keepers named King, seeing a large bird which he could not recognize, out supposed to be an Eagle, flying over a part of Marlborough Forest called Henswood, fired a cartridge at it, though from the distance had little expectation of reaching it; he was not therefore disappointed to see the bird continue its flight, apparently unharmed, and went away thinking no more of the matter.

Subsequently, and apparently only a day or two after, a little boy of not more than seven years old, saw a large bird, crippled with a broken leg, and succeeded in capturing it, and the following is his own description of the occurrence, taken at the time from his own lips, and obligingly communicated to me by Mr. W. H. Rowland, of Hungerford, who afterwards purchased the bird. "I was going to Starve-all farm with my brother's dinner, about twelve o'clock, and passing along the edge of about a ten-acre field of turnips, I saw a great red bird laid down and fluttering away, he was close to the side of the turnips, I went to him and he tried to flutter away; he came at me and bit my fingers, but did not hurt me much, and as he put out his great wings, I caught hold of one, and dragged him along, pretty near a quarter of a mile, up to "Starve-all", where a man broke his neck: the bird wasn't dirty when I first saw him, I made him so pulling him along the field; the bird made a terrible row with his wings on the barn floor, after his neck was broken: one of the men put the bird on my back, and I held his head in my hand and carried him home to mother; he was main heavy, and I couldn't scarce get along with him".

So far we have the account of the little boy himself, the fortunate captor of the last British Bustard, but it appears farther that there was a council of war held over the bird, (when the boy first took it into the barn alive), by all the labourers, who were just at that time assembled at dinner, and it was very nearly decided to pick it and dress it then and there, but the little boy's brother claimed it for him, so one of the men killed it, that the boy might carry it home better.

Later in the day, at about two o'clock in the afternoon, two young men were going shooting, and the mother of the little bustard-catcher asked them to come into her cottage to see what a bird she had got, when one of them offered her six-pence for it, then eight-pence, and ultimately bought it for one shilling, with the promise that the woman should have the carcase after the bird was skinned, but its purchase by Mr. Rowland prevented that being done. The dragging across the field by the boy, and the rough handling of the man at the barn, injured its feathers a good deal, but owing to the care and skill of Mr. Leadbeater it has been well cleaned, and is pronounced by Mr. Yarrell, who also examined it, a very good specimen. The latter gentleman was extremely anxious to procure the neck for dissection, in order to clear up the much-vexed question, as to whether the male Bustard has, or has not, the gular pouch, or bag between the under side of the tongue, and the lower mandible of the bill, which, from the days of Daines Barrington, and Edwards, afterwards copied by Bewick and Yarrell in their respective Histories of British Birds, was supposed to exist and to supply the bird with drink in dry places when distant from water.

Subsequent research, and careful anatomical observation, have since shaken Mr. Yarrell's belief in this gular pouch, and in this he is supported by the old French Naturalists, with Cuvier at their head, as well as Professor Owen of the Royal College of Surgeons; the question, however, is still an open one, with warm advocates on both sides, "et adhuc sub judice lis est".

But to return to the Hungerford bustard. Though, unfortunately for science, Mr. Yarrell was unable, in this case, to prosecute his investigation by dissection, all the soft parts required having been irrecoverably destroyed, Mr. Leadbeater satisfied himself by anatomical observation that the bird under his hands was a young male, and has preserved in spirits a sufficient portion of the body to satisfy any one on that point. This is the more important, as, though the dimensions are too large for a female, the specimen before us being a bird of the second year only, is without the whiskers so conspicuous in an adult male, as may be seen in the woodcut; for in young birds these become visible only at the pairing season.

Though in a poor emaciated condition when captured, it weighed thirteen and a quarter pounds, and measured from tip to tip of the wings, six feet three inches. How so large, powerful, and pugnacious a bird, should suffer itself to be mastered by a boy of tender age, seems strange at first sight, but if we take into account the broken leg, the wound in which seemed to be a stale one of some days' standing, and its consequent exhaustion from loss of blood; and if we suppose the boy to have caught hold of the left wing, the same side as the broken leg, we can easily conceive how the bird was rendered powerless, and could not recover itself to offer resistance. How it came by the broken leg, has been also much disputed, the limb not being shattered as if by shot, but the bone broken off, as if by ball, and the fracture being too high up to have been caused by a trap. Mr. Yarrell suggested the probability of the accident occurring by the bird getting its leg entangled among the bars of a sheep hurdle, and making efforts to get loose; but ever since I gained intelligence of the keeper's shot with a cartridge, I have come to the conclusion that that shot took effect, and that the bird he fired at, and the one caught subsequently by the little boy, were one and the same, and therefore Henswood, (the scene of the keeper's shot,) being in Wiltshire, I lay claim to this Bustard as a bonâ fide Wiltshire specimen, though I own it was so misguided as to cross the border to die within the county of Berks.

I am happy to add, that this last of the Wiltshire Bustards is established in the county, in the excellent collection of the Rev. G. Marsh, at Sutton Benger.'

"A Wiltshire Man" (1871) in The Field of 14th Jan., Vol. XXXVII. p. 19, says: 'In January, 1856, one of Lord Ailesbury's keepers fired a cartridge at a large bird, which he thought was an eagle, flying over Marlborough Forest. Owing to the distance, he was not surprised to see the bird, as he thought, continue its flight uninjured. A few days after, a little boy of not more than seven, while carrying his brother's dinner to a farm near Hungerford, saw a large bird, crippled in one leg, fluttering about a large turnip field. On going up to it, it made at him, but the little hero caught it by the left wing and gallantly dragged it to the farm. Here the bird's neck was twisted, and a consultation held (it being the dinner hour of the farm labourers) whether it should be picked and dressed then and there. The boy's brother, however, laid claim to it for him; the bird was killed outright, and put on the boy's shoulder to carry home to his mother. The latter, on seeing two young men going by with guns, called them in and asked them whatever bird they thought it was; not knowing, they sought to satisfy their curiosity by offering sixpence for it, and eventually bought it for one shilling, promising her the carcass after the bird was skinned.

When handed over to Mr. Leadbeater for stuffing, it was found to be a two-year old male bustard. The bird was afterwards examined by Mr. Yarrell. By the broken leg it was undoubtedly proved to be the same bird as Lord Ailesbury's keeper shot at while passing over Marlborough Forest, and therefore, though ill-mannered enough to die just the other side of the border, in the county of Berks., was a bonâ fide Wiltshire specimen. I am indebted for many of the above remarks to a very able local ornithologist, the Rev. A. C. Smith, rector of Yatesbury.'

Smith (1887: 358-359) says: '...The latter gentleman was extremely anxious to procure the neck for dissection, that he might satisfy himself in regard to the gular pouch, and was much disappointed to find that all the soft parts required had been irrecoverably destroyed.

Mr. Leadbeater, however, ascertained that it was a young male, in the second year only, and it was without the whiskers so conspicuous in the adult male. In all probability, therefore, it would have had no gular pouch. Though in a poor emaciated condition when captured, it weighed 13¼ lb., and measured from tip to tip of the wings, 6 feet 3 inches. How so large, powerful, and pugnacious a bird should suffer itself to be mastered by a boy of tender age, seems strange at first sight; but if we take into account the broken leg (the wound in which it seemed to be a stale one of some days' standing) and its consequent exhaustion from loss of blood, and if we suppose the boy to have caught hold of the left wing, on the same side as the broken leg, we can easily conceive how the bird was rendered powerless, and could not recover itself to offer resistance. How it came by the broken leg has been also much disputed, the limb not being shattered as if by shot, but the bone broken off as if by ball, and the fracture being too high up to have been caused by a trap. Mr. Yarrell suggested the probability of the accident occurring by the bird getting its legs entangled among the bars of a sheep-hurdle, and making efforts to get loose; but ever since I gained intelligence of the keeper's shot with a cartridge, I have come to the conclusion that that shot took effect, and that the bird so fired at, and that caught subsequently by the little boy, were one and the same; and therefore Henswood (the scene of the keeper's shot) being in Wiltshire, I claim this bird as a bonâ fide Wiltshire specimen, though I own it was so misguided as to cross the border to die just within the county of Berks.

I am happy to add that, by Mr. Marsh's desire, I purchased this specimen for his collection, though at the high price of £20, and it may now be seen with the rest of his birds in the museum of Salisbury.'

10.1). 1856 Berkshire Near Hungerford, immature male, caught, 3rd January; same as Wiltshire.

(W. Yarrell, Zoologist 1856: 4995-96; A. C. Smith, Zoologist 1856: 5061-63; W. H. Rowland, Morris and Bree's Naturalist 6: 91; "A Young Naturalist" Field 13th Dec., 1856: 376; Yarrell, 1871-85; Radford, 1966).

History William Yarrell of London (1856) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XIV. pp. 4995-96, says: 'On Thursday, January 3, 1856, as a boy about nine years of age was on his way from Hungerford to a lone farm about a mile off, on the road to Salisbury, with his brother's dinner, at twelve o'clock, he saw a large red bird on the ground, fluttering about, near the edge of a piece of turnips. He went close up to the bird, and observed that it had a broken leg: he tried to take hold of it, but the bird "pecked at him, bit his fingers and put out his great wings". He caught hold of one of them, and dragged the bird along the ground by it for nearly a quarter of a mile to the farm, where a farming man killed it by breaking its neck, that the boy, as he said "might carry it easier". The boy says the bird was quite clean when he first saw it, but that he made it dirty by dragging it along the field.

The bird passed through the hands of two or three persons, and came at length into the possession of W. H. Rowland, Esq., of Hungerford, who sent it up to Mr. Leadbeater, of Brewer Street, to be preserved. Mr. Rowland did me the favour to call upon me on Saturday, the 12th inst., and went with me to Brewer Street, that I might see the specimen. Mr. Leadbeater had examined the inside of the bird, and had saved the sexual part in spirit, which showed that it was a young male. The bird appeared to be about eighteen or twenty months old, and was, as I believe, a bird of the season 1854.

The fracture of the bone of the leg, with the skin torn through, about half way between the true heel and the knee, did not appear as if produced by gun shot, nor was there a single perforation in any other part of the skin of the bird. The wound was too high up to have been caused by a trap, and perhaps the accident had occurred by the bustard getting his leg entangled among the bars of sheep-hurdles, and making efforts to get loose. The wound was apparently of some days standing, and had bled considerably.

That the bird was weak and exhausted may be safely inferred from its allowing a boy to drag it along the ground by its wing, so courageous and fightable as this species is known to be when in health; there was, moreover, very little blood within the skin where the neck was broken. The soft parts had been irrecoverably made away with, or I should have examined the neck with great interest.'

Alfred Charles Smith of Calne (1856) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XIV. pp. 5061-63, dated 6th March 1856, says: 'I trust it will not seem presumptuous of me to attempt to add a few particulars which I have gleaned with reference to the Great Bustard whose capture was recorded in The Zoologist for February (Zool. 4995), though that capture was described by no less a master in Ornithology than Mr. Yarrell. Did it refer to any inferior bird, and had not certain opinions gone abroad that it was a tame one escaped from confinement, I should leave the matter as it is; but as I am sure that every circumstance, however minute, connected with the occurrence of so noble, so rare and so highly prized a visitant, will be deeply interesting to all my brother ornithologists, and as, residing not very far from the scene of its appearance, I have been enabled to prosecute very diligent inquiries amongst all those who either saw the bird or had anything to do with it, I shall without further apology proceed to answer what seems to me to be an unfounded report, and to state the few additional facts of its occurrence which have come to my knowledge (first premising that I should have done so a month since had I not for a time become entangled in a web of falsehoods, which some of those near the place of the capture thought fit to weave when they discovered how notorious a visitor they had had, every one seeming desirous of proving that he saw, if he did not help to capture, the bird; such reports, however, having been diligently sifted, turned out for the most part to be gossip). It has been asserted very positively, by several persons who have examined the bird since it has been in Mr. Leadbeater's hands, that it bears unmistakeable marks of confinement, especially as regards the bedraggled appearance of the wings and tail; and I fancy this opinion is not a little confirmed by the mysterious broken leg, no very satisfactory cause for which they have discovered; but now let me beg attention to a plain statement of the facts of the case.

It appears that at the beginning of January (which is the nearest date at which I can arrive) one of Lord Ailesbury's keepers, named King, saw a large bird flying over Henswood, part of Marlborough forest; it was quite alone, and thinking it might be an "eagle" he fired a cartridge at it, though he thought it beyond his reach: as the bird continued its flight, apparently unharmed, he did not suppose he had touched it, but went on his way, thinking no more of the matter. I cannot learn as a positive fact that anything more was seen of a large bird for some days, though there are a great many fables on the subject.

And now we come to the time when Mr. Yarrell begins his account, how a little boy found a great bird (proving to be an undoubted great bustard) fluttering on the ground, with its left leg broken, how, notwithstanding its struggles with beak and wings, he succeeded in seizing it by one wing, and so dragged it along the ground for nearly a quarter of a mile to the farm, where its neck was broken by a labourer; and how the boy affirmed that the bird was quite clean when he first saw it, but that he made it dirty by dragging it along the field.

Now, putting all these circumstances together, - the keeper firing a cartridge at a large bird; the subsequent capture, by a little boy of tender age, of a large powerful and savage bustard, with a broken leg, but with very slight resistance comparatively on its part: taking into account, too, how the wound in the leg of the captured bird appeared to be a stale one, of some days standing; how the limb was not shattered, as if by shot, but the bone broken off, as if by ball (as was the conjecture of some who subsequently saw it), and that "too high up to have been caused by a trap" - may we not reasonably conclude that the bird seen by the keeper was one and the same with that captured by the boy, and that the keeper's cartridge took effect and crippled it, and so rendered it by loss of blood weak and exhausted, and an easy prey to its youthful captor?

I confess I can come to no other conclusion, and therefore Henswood (the scene of the keeper's shot) being in Wilts, I lay claim to this bustard as a Wiltshire specimen as well, though I own it was so misguided as to cross the border to die in another county; but Wiltshire, was always a great stronghold of these noble birds, and the subject of these remarks doubtless came to visit the retreats of his forefathers, though I must acknowledge the reception he met with was neither friendly nor encouraging.

Again, from the above premises, - the dragging of the fluttering bird along the ground for a quarter of a mile, in the first week in January, when fallows and arable lands of all kinds are proverbially wet and muddy, and the declaration of the boy that until so dragged its plumage was quite clean, - have we not a very obvious cause of its injured feathers, a very plain straightforward conclusion, and an ample answer to those who judge of its previous confinement from the bedraggled appearance of the wings and tail and this in addition to the great improbability (if it had escaped from confinement) that so valuable a bird should neither have been claimed, identified, nor even mentioned by its previous owner; while the fact of its occurrence has been widely and generally made known by The Zoologist, the Times, and the Illustrated London News, in addition to several provincial papers.

The bird is now immortalized by Mr. Leadbeater, and in the possession of Mr. Rowland, but it was within an ace of being lost to Ornithology for ever, as at the barn, the scene of its barbarous murder, a council of war was held over it by all the labourers, who were at that hour assembled at dinner, and it was very nearly decided to pick and dress it then and there; but the little boy's brother claimed it for him, and so it was put on his back, and its head was held in his hand, and so he trudged home with his prize to his mother; and no wonder that the urchin said "it was main heavy, and he couldn't scarce get along with him", for though described to be in poor condition it weighed 13¼ lbs., and measured 6 feet 3 inches from tip to tip of the wings.

Mr. Rowland further remarks, and very justly, that the only way to account for so small a boy so easily capturing a bird as large as himself is that when he caught bold of the left wing the bird became powerless, in consequence of the leg on that side being broken, and that when once on its side it would not recover itself to offer resistance.

But one more fact have I to offer, and that is the name of the farm which was the scene of the death of the last of the bustards; and that, harmonizing well with the emaciated condition of the bird, rejoices in the euphonious title of "Starve-all".'

W. H. Rowland of Hungerford (1856) in Morris and Bree's edition of The Naturalist, Vol. VI. p. 91, dated 29th January 1856, says: '...a specimen of the Great Bustard (Otis tarda, Linnaeus) has recently (3rd of January inst.) been taken in the neighbourhood of Hungerford, where I reside, and just on the borders of Wilts. and Berks. It is a male bird, and is a very fine specimen.'

"A Young Naturalist" (1856) in The Field of 13th Dec., Vol. VIII. p. 376, says: 'It may be interesting to the Naturalist to know that the last "Great Bustard" that ever was seen in England was captured in this county (Wilts.) by a young lad, who found it in a turnip-field, with its leg broke. Though in a poor emaciated condition when taken, it weighed thirteen and a quarter pounds; and measured from tip of tip of the wings six feet three inches.'

11). 1856 Cambridgeshire Burwell Fen, two, late January to about 20th February, one to 1st March.

(A. F. Sealy, Zoologist 1856: 5063-64; O. Salvin, Zoologist 1856: 5278-80; Yarrell, 1871-85; Marr & Shipley, 1904; Lack, 1934; Bircham, 1989).

History Alfred F. Sealy of Cambridge (1856) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XIV. pp. 5063-64, dated 17th March, 1856, says: 'About Christmas, during the last winter, a pair of the Great Bustards were seen by the fen-men in Wicken and Burwell fens: very soon after Christmas they were shot at, and one was supposed to be wounded; any how after this, only one bird was seen. This bird was noticed by all the people living near or on the fen with whom I have spoken, but partly from the little intercourse between Wicken and Cambridge, and partly, perhaps, from a desire to prevent others from sharing the chance of securing so rare a prize (for the bird has not been seen for more than twenty years in those parts), the news did not reach the collectors in Cambridge until the 1st of March.

Several went down immediately, but all of us were equally unsuccessful, as the last time it was seen was on Sunday, March 2nd, when some of the fen-men shot at it, but being too far to have a chance of killing it, they only frightened the bird off, and at present no further tidings of it have been heard. In a piece of cole-seed, which it often was seen to frequent, were found marks of the scratching of a large bird and several feathers, some from the wing, others being the short feathers of the back; from the brightness of the markings of these feathers, the bird must have been a very finely marked specimen.

There is such difficulty in extracting true information from the fen-men, that I could not find out the man who fired at the two birds, but several persons concur in stating that it was soon after Christmas. Is it not probable that this might be the same bird which was discovered wounded near Hungerford, on January 3rd, mentioned in The Zoologist for February.'

Osbert Salvin of Cambridge (1856) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XIV. pp. 5278-80, dated 25th August 1856, adds: 'I have waited for some time in the hope that one or the other of those gentlemen who most diligently ascertained some of the particulars respecting the appearance of two great bustards in Cambridgeshire, last spring, would have addressed to The Zoologist a few remarks, to corroborate, and, in some instances, correct the account which my friend, Mr. A. F. Sealy published some months ago (Zool. 5063); but, finding they are not disposed to come forward in the matter, I venture to do so, conceiving that it is desirable that no particulars relative to the occurrence of so interesting a bird should remain unpublished. It is beyond all doubt that two Great Bustards for some time in the early part of the present year (1856) frequented some open fields in the Burwell and Swaffham Fens.

The statements as to when they were first observed differ considerably, but Mr. F. Godman and Mr. A. Hamond, who are the most competent to judge, from their having many times visited the locality and having diligently inquired respecting them of persons employed there in field labour, some of whom had seen one or both birds, believe that it was towards the end of January, and not, as Mr. Sealy inclines to think, "about Christmas", that they were first observed, and this accords with the impressions I also received when prosecuting similar inquiries on the spot.

It appears to us that it was not until the 20th of February that the one Mr. Sealy mentions was shot at and possibly wounded, for, as far as can be ascertained, a single bird only was afterwards observed, which usually frequented one or other of some small fields of cole-seed, and was more than once approached by labouring men, whose presence it seemed to disregard until they came within shooting distance, but it was constantly disturbed by professional "gunners", several of whom were in daily pursuit of it.

On the 1st of March one of them shot at it, but as the attempt on its life was made with an ordinary gun, at a distance of a hundred and fifty yards, there is no reason to suppose it was wounded, yet I believe it was never subsequently seen. Setting aside the accounts of those, who actually saw the birds, and who described them with quite sufficient accuracy for one to determine the species to which they belonged, all doubt was removed as to the one which remained, by the discovery of a great many feathers amongst the cole-seed, some of which were shown to Mr. Gould and Mr. Yarrell, both of whom expressed very decided opinions on the subject.

On the 3rd of March, two days after the bird was last seen, I myself found, in a piece of cole-seed in Swaffham Fen, many of its foot-prints in the soil, which was in a very dry state at the time. These marks were about six inches apart, and could be traced for a considerable distance, while every here and there the ground was much trampled down, as if the bird had there stopped to feed. The feathers found were principally from the upper wing-coverts, but I saw one scapular, and picked up others from the breast and sides of the neck.

Several reports have since been circulated relative to the death of this last bird, but all have as yet happily proved unfounded; it is to be hoped, therefore, that both (or at least one) returned whence they came, and escaped the fate of their unfortunate predecessor who met his death at Hungerford. Mr. Sealy's statement that these birds were "a pair", is, I think, in the physical sense of the word, erroneous, for in no instance was any disparity of size mentioned as existing in the two birds by the many observers of them, some of whom were questioned with special reference to the point; I incline to think they were both of the same sex, probably females.

I could not discover that either of the birds had ever been seen in Wicken Fen, as mentioned by Mr. SeaIy, and, from the nature of the ground, I should think it highly improbable that they ever put foot in it, Wicken Fen being covered with sedge, and still, almost in its natural state, whereas Burwell and Swaffham Fens have been drained and are now arable land. It is quite clear that the bustard killed near Hungerford on the 3rd January last cannot have been one of these; but as it is the nature of bustards to migrate in companies it is possible that the three observed this year in England might have originally formed part of the same flock; and I may also add, on the authority of Mr. Baker, the naturalist, of this town, that a Great Bustard was, in February last, killed in the province of North Brabant, in Holland, which might also have been another member of the roving band.'

A. H. Evans (1904: 84-85) under 'The Birds of Cambridgeshire' in Marr & Shipley's Handbook to the Natural History of Cambridgeshire, says: 'At the end of February and beginning of March, 1856, a bustard frequented Burwell Fen and the neighbourhood for several weeks. Mr. Frederick Godman and the late Mr. Anthony Hamond saw it more than once.

The people would not let it alone, and it was shot at several times. My brother Edward, Mr. Salvin and I, went to the place, but the bird had left. We, however, saw its footmarks in a field of cole-seed, and found some feathers one of which I now have.'

Accepted locally (Lack 1934: 110; Bircham 1989).

13). 1859 Kent New Romney, immature male, shot, early February, now at Maidstone Museum.

("Sussex Express"; Eds., Field 19th Feb., 1859: 146; Yarrell, 1871-85; Ticehurst, 1909; Harrison, 1953).

History In an Editorial (1859) in The Field of 19th Feb., Vol. XIII. p. 146, he says: 'A beautiful specimen of the Great Bustard was shot last week by Mr. John Chittenden, of Newchurch, on the farm in his occupation. The bird stands nearly two and a half feet in height. It is now in the hands of our celebrated ornithologist, Mr. George Ide.

It is said that, with the exception of one shot in 1850, this is the only specimen of that rare bird seen in this part of the country for nearly a century ("Sussex Express").'

Admitted by Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 206, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds.

Locally, Ticehurst (1909: 405) says: 'In the Maidstone Museum is an immature male, part of the Simmons' collection, which was shot between the 5th and 12th of February, 1859, by Mr. John Chittenden, of Newchurch, near New Romney.'

14). 1861 Yorkshire Rufforth Moor, near York, adult female, shot, 22nd February, now at Yorkshire Museum, York.

(D. Graham & T. H. Allis, Zoologist 1861: 7507; Clarke & Roebuck, 1881; Yarrell, 1871-85; E. R. Waite, Naturalist 17: 106; Nelson, 1907; T. Sheppard, Naturalist 49: 89; Mather, 1986; Denton, 1995).

History D. Graham & T. H. Allis (1861) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XIX. p. 7507, undated, it says: 'I have this day purchased a fine specimen of the Bustard, shot yesterday morning, February 22, at Rufforth, near York: it weighed 10lbs. 12 ozs.- David Graham.

There is no ground for doubting that this was a genuine wild bird: I happened to be present when the farmer who shot it brought it into Mr. Graham's shop in his butter basket: it is going to our Museum, having been purchased by subscription and presented to the Rudston collection. - Thomas Henry Allis.

The following, from a local paper, has been kindly communicated by the Rev. R. Bryan Cooke: - "Mr. Graham, of Market Street, who had preserved the Great Bustard presented to the Society, gave a short account of the bird. He stated that it was shot on the 22nd of February, at Rufforth, near York, by a man of the name Rogers. When Mr. W. H. R. Read saw the bird he was anxious that it should be preserved and presented to the Society. This particular species of Bustard was known as the Otis tarda, but was now extinct in this country, although half a century ago it was found upon the Wolds of Yorkshire. There were two other species already in the Museum, - namely the Little Bustard (Otis tetrax) and Macqueen's Bustard (Otis macqueenii), - and, with the Otis tarda, the Society would possess three valuable and well-authenticated specimens of the genus Otis.

The specimen he had just preserved was an old female bird, which, singularly enough, had about it all the markings of the male bustard, thus rendering it the more remarkable.'

Accepted locally (Clarke & Roebuck 1881: 68) and admitted by Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 206, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds.

Edgar R. Waite Sub-curator of Leeds Museum (1891) in the new series of The Naturalist, Vol. XVII. p. 106, says: 'A female in the York Museum was shot on Rufforth Moor, near York, by Mr. Richard Rogers, on the 22nd February 1861 (Allis, Zoologist 1861, p. 7507). My friend, Mr. John Harrison, tells me that he saw a female - no doubt the same bird - at Wilstrop a day or two previous to the date mentioned.'

Accepted locally (Nelson 1907 (2): 557).

T. Sheppard, Curator of Hull Museum (1923) in the new series of The Naturalist, Vol. XLIX. p. 89, says: 'Of the five specimens in the Museum of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society, at York, one, a female, is from "Rufforth, Yorks., Feb., 1861, purchased". It was shot there.'

Comment Although David Graham has been discredited over the 'Tadcaster Rarities' fraud, this record would appear to be genuine. Although, Harrison was the person who found and skinned the Lesser Kestrel in Yorkshire, 1867, also a 'Tadcaster Rarities' fraud.

15). 1864 Yorkshire Bridlington, female, picked up dead in the sea, 11th November.

(W. W. Boulton, Zoologist 1865: 9442-46; Clarke & Roebuck, 1881; Yarrell, 1871-85; Nelson, 1907; T. Sheppard, Naturalist 49: 89; Mather, 1986).

History W. W. Boulton of Beverley (1865) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XXIII. pp. 9442-46, dated 8th December, 1864, says: 'On Friday, November 11th, 1864, I received a note from Mr. T. Jones, of Bridlington Quay, stating that he had just obtained a specimen of the Great Bustard, in the flesh, weighing thirteen pounds; that it was still warm whilst he was writing to me, and that I might have it if I would give the required price. He stated, in addition, that it had been picked up in Bridlington Bay, on the same day (November 11th), by a man named Welbourn, and that when found floating on the water, although dead, it was quite warm. I at once telegraphed to request him to forward it by the following train, in the flesh. I also wrote, most particularly begging of him to send it as it had been found.

To my great disappointment the bird arrived, the following morning (November 12th), already skinned. This operation had been performed only a very short time previously, as it was uncured, and portions of flesh and fat still adhered to the skin; whilst the skin itself, the bill, legs, joints, &c., were all of them quite soft and supple. The tongue, windpipe and eyes were also sent, and by their condition and appearance proved that the bird had not been long dead. I again telegraphed for the body, vainly hoping that it might yet present many features of interest for dissection, &c., as for instance the stomach, sexual organs, &c.

In due time the carcass, or what was left of it, arrived, in a condition that divulged the secret of its having been withheld in the first instance, viz., disembowled, and trussed for cooking after the most orthodox fashion. The heart, liver and stomach were the only viscera remaining, and these had been detached from their positions and cleansed. The stomach had been emptied of its contents: even the sexual organs kidneys had been cut away, so that the only indications of sex remaining were the comparative weight and the plumage. Judging by these alone, I have little doubt that my specimen is a female of second or third year.

Her weight - thirteen pounds - is considerably more than that of birds of the year, viz., seven to eight pounds, and the peculiarly slaty-grey of the head and neck, and the absence of the lateral plumes from the chin, would indicate the female and imperfect maturity, as the female bustard does not assume these elongated feathers on the chin until the third or fourth year (see Yarrell, II. 451; Morris, IV. 6). The plumage of my bird is very fine, not a feather having been lost. It must have fallen exhausted into the water, or dropped from fear of some threatening hawk, of which the bustard entertains a peculiar dread. I am inclined to adopt the latter supposition, as the body is in excellent condition, and does not present the slightest evidence of exhaustion or starvation, weighing, when minus head, neck, skin and feathers, legs, wings and viscera, rather more than seven pounds. Unable to rise again, it had drowned, and must have been picked up very shortly after death, as it was still quite warm when found, and did not appear to have been many hours dead when I received it. I could find no trace of internal injury or disease on subsequent dissection.

Measurements: - Total length from tip of bill to tip of tail, 3 feet 3 inches; height, as the bird stands with head and neck slightly bent, from crown of head to sole of foot, 2 feet 5½ inches; from anterior bend of wing to end of longest primary, 1 foot 11½ inches (nearly); across wings I most unfortunately missed, as Mr. Richardson had got the bird set up before I called to obtain the measurements. Dissection: - As I have before said, the body, or rather what was left of it, was in excellent condition. The heart and liver were perfectly healthy, and seemed to me large in proportion to the size of the bird; otherwise they do not demand special notice. The tongue, on the other hand, presented peculiarities which I think are deserving of comment....A note from Mr. Jones has, however, just arrived, in which he tells me that "the stomach was filled to distention with very fine green grass, but not a particle of grit".

This was altogether a voluntary statement on the part of Mr. Jones, as I had not asked him for the information. He also states that the sex of the bird was female, and that he believes her to have been fully mature. On this point I beg still to differ with him, for the reasons already assigned. I have been to-day to Scorbro, the seat of Mr. James Hall, and took that opportunity of inspecting two specimens of the great bustard in his collection, which had been captured in this East Riding: one, a female, was evidently a bird of the year; it was taken alive in the neighbourhood of Scorbro, about forty years ago, and Mr. Hall had it tethered upon his lawn: the other, an old male, Mr. Hall forgets the history of; he thinks that it was taken not far from Doncaster, but certainly in Yorkshire.

In former times, when our Yorkshire wolds were a wild undulating sheep-walk, this noble bird was not uncommon, and reared its young on those plains which the discoveries of modern chemistry and agriculture have transformed into a perfect garden, capable of the very highest results of cultivation.'

Accepted locally (Clarke & Roebuck 1881: 68). Admitted by Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 206, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds.

Locally, Nelson (1907 (2): 557) adds: 'This specimen is now in the collection of Mr. Thomas Boynton at Bridlington, where I have had the privilege of examining it, as also the male individual purchased from the Scorborough collection.'

T. Sheppard, Curator of Hull Museum (1923) in the new series of The Naturalist, Vol. XLIX. p. 89, says: 'This example is now in the possession of a well-known Yorkshire collector.'

16). 1867 Norfolk Horsey Mere, seen, 7th to 9th January.

(T. A. Rising, Field 19th Jan., 1867: 29; T. A. Rising, Zoologist 1867: 635; Stevenson, 1870; Yarrell, 1871-85; Patterson, 1905; Riviere, 1930).

History T. A. Rising of Horsey (1867) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. II. p. 635, quoting from The Field of 19th January, 1867, says: 'As I was in my boat after wildfowl, &c., on the 7th inst., on Horsey Mere, I observed a large bird flying towards me: at first I mistook it for a heron, from its slow, steady flight; but, on its nearer approach, I found out my mistake.

The bird was coming directly over our heads, but bent his course when some sixty or seventy yards from us. We both fired, but the bird kept steadily on its way till we lost sight of it. I could not then imagine what it was, never before having seen the Great Bustard on the wing; still, the peculiar round shape of the wing, jagged also at the edge, the neck also and head so small in comparison with the body, struck me much, and made me very anxious to get it.

On the next two days it was seen again stalking in the marshes, like an over-grown turkey, but it would not allow any nearer approach than one hundred yards before it flew quietly away, taking, however, but short flights, for it seemed more careful than wild. Having now no doubt that the bird was the Great Bustard, I have been on the look out ever since, but when once the snow came the bird absconded, and I fear my chance of a nearer acquaintance is now at an end.'

Stevenson (1870 (2): 30-31) says: 'There is no record that I know of, either before or since that time [1820], of any supposed migratory bustard on the Norfolk coast until the severe winter of 1866-7, when, a large bird (which, though not procured, belonged, I have no doubt to this species), was likewise observed in the Horsey marshes by Captain Rising, who thus recorded its occurrence in The Field (January 19th, 1867).'

Admitted by Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 206, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds.

17). 1870 Somerset Shapwick Heath, seen, 27th September.

(J. E. Harting, Field 14th Jan., 1871: 19; Eds., Zoologist 1871: 2477; Yarrell, 1871-85; M. A. Mathew, Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological & Natural History Society 39: 127; Somerset Ornithological Society, 1988; Ballance, 2006).

History J. E. Harting (1871) in The Field of 14th Jan., Vol. XXXVII. p. 19, and in The Zoologist (1871) 2nd series, Vol. V. p. 2477, quoting from The Field of 14th January, 1871, says: 'The Great Bustard, although formerly a resident species, is now so rarely met with in Great Britain that any details in connection with its irregular visits cannot fail to interest naturalists. In September last I was in Somersetshire, and on the 27th of that month, whilst journeying by rail from Bishop's Lydeard to Wells, I unexpectedly fell in with a Great Bustard on the low flat country by Shapwick.

My attention was first arrested by seeing the bird crouch at the approach of the train. It was then at a considerable distance, and, seeing only the head and back, I at first thought it must be a pheasant. Had it been in any other part of the county, I should probably not have looked at it longer; but, as there was no copse in sight and no hedgerows (the country being divided by dykes as in the Fens), it struck me as being a most unlikely place for pheasants. I was thus led to keep my eyes upon the bird until the train had decreased by two-thirds the distance between us. Frightened, no doubt, at the approaching noise, the bird then jumped up and ran swiftly away, exhibiting to my astonishment the long legs and white flanks of a bustard.'

Admitted by Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 207, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds.

Comment Harting was the Editor of The Field and The Zoologist at varying times. It was an early date for this winter visitor.

18). 1870 Greater London Feltham, Middlesex, immature female, shot, 28th December.

(Eds., Field 7th Jan., 1871: 5-6; M. C. Cooke, Hardwicke's Science Gossip 1871: 42; J. Dutton, Zoologist 1871: 2473; Glegg, 1935).

History In an Editorial (1871) in The Field of 7th Jan., Vol. XXXVII. pp. 5-6, he says: 'A few days ago, there was brought to The Field office a specimen of the Great Bustard (Otis tarda) that had been shot at Feltham, Middlesex, on Wednesday, the 28th of December, 1870. Mr. Tegetmeier's attention being drawn to it, it was exhibited by that gentleman at the meeting of the Zoological Society on Tuesday last. The bird was a female, and in rather poor condition as regards flesh. It bore every evidence of being a wild bird, and was accepted as such by Mr. Harting, Mr. Dresser, and other practical ornithologists present at the meeting, and also by Professor A. Newton, who has long been collecting materials for a monograph of this bird....The specimen forwarded to us was shot by a labouring man named Burnham, and passed into the possession of Mr. Crystall, of Hammersmith, by whom it is now being preserved.

But, strange to say, this is not the only specimen met with; for we have since heard from Mr. James Rowe, of High Street, Barnstaple, N. Devon, that he has purchased two other Bustards, which were shot on the Dec. 31 on Braunton Sands. They also were both females, weighing 9 lb. and 7 lb. respectively, one dark in colour, and the other light.'

M. C. Cooke, Editor (1871) in Hardwicke's Science Gossip, Vol. VII. p. 42, says: 'At the meeting of the Zoological Society on the 3rd of January Mr. Tegetmeier exhibited and made remarks on a specimen, in the flesh, of a female of the Great Bustard which had been killed on the 29th of December near Feltham, in Middlesex.'

James Dutton of Hammersmith (1871) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. VI. p. 2473, dated 11th January 1871, says: 'A few days since I had the pleasure of seeing, in the flesh, a splendid specimen of the Great Bustard (Otis tarda). The bird was shot by a labouring man named Burnham, at Feltham, near Hounslow, on the 28th of December, and was purchased by Mr. Alfred Crystall, an industrious and intelligent birdstuffer, of Hammersmith.

It was in beautiful plumage, especially the tips of the wing and tail feathers, proving that it could not have escaped from confinement, even if it were possible for it to have been kept in such state. It weighed eight pounds. Length from tip of bill to the end of the tail 35 inches; from tip to tip of extended wings 5 feet 7 inches. The sex a female, and apparently not a very old bird. No food was found in its crop. It has been set up handsomely, and would be a great ornament in any ornithological collection.'

Further, on the same page of The Field of 7th June is added, 'A few days ago there was brought to The Field office a specimen of the Great Bustard (Otis tarda) that had been shot at Feltham, Middlesex, on Wednesday, the 28th of December, 1870. Mr. Tegetmeier's attention being drawn to it, it was exhibited by that gentleman at the meeting of the Zoological Society on Tuesday last.

The bird was a female, and in rather poor condition as regards flesh. It bore every evidence of being a wild bird, and was accepted as such by Mr. Harting, Mr. Dresser and other practical ornithologists present at the meeting, and also by Professor A. Newton.'

Admitted by Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 207, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds and accepted locally for Middlesex (Glegg 1935: 179).

19). 1870 Devon Braunton Burrows, eight, two shot and one wounded, 31st December.

(J. Gatcombe, Zoologist 1871: 2474-75; Eds., Field 7th Jan., 1871: 6; J. E. Harting, Field 14th Jan., 1871: 19; C. Smith, Zoologist 1871: 2474-75; C. Smith, Zoologist 1871: 2642; M. A. Mathew, Zoologist 1871: 2510; Yarrell, 1871-85; Pidsley, 1891; D'Urban & Mathew, 1895).

History J. Gatcombe of Stonehouse, Devon (1871) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. VI. p. 2474, dated 6th January, 1871, says: 'I have this morning received a note from Barnstaple, North Devon, stating that two great bustards were killed, and one severely wounded, out of a flock of seven, at Braunton Burrows, last week, and that the hats of the children in the neighbourhood were ornamented with their feathers; so I much fear they cannot have been preserved. The wounded bird is supposed to be concealed in the neighbourhood, but the remainder of the flock made off. There can be no doubt of the species, as a beautiful feather from the back of one of the birds was enclosed in my note. I had the honour of noticing the capture of the last Great Bustard in Devonshire, on the 31st of December, 1851. I thought it better to send you an account of so interesting and rare an occurrence at once, but will endeavour to send further particulars as soon as possible.'

Further, on pp. 2474-75, in a postscript, J. Gatcombe adds: 'In my note a short time since on the occurrence of Great Bustards in North Devon I promised (if possible) to send you further particulars concerning them, and a few days afterwards my friend the Rev. W. S. Hore, living at Barnstaple, who sent me the first intimation of their appearance, kindly invited me to his house, so that I might see the two birds which had been killed and visit the locality in which they were obtained. This I did, and was much surprised and pleased to find that Mr. Rowe had managed to make such capital specimens of them, notwithstanding their plumage had been so maltreated by the country people, and I must add great praise is due to his skill.

At Braunton we ascertained that the flock consisted of eight when first observed, and that they alighted in a field at Croyde, where one was killed by Mr. William Quick and another shot, and one wounded by Mr. Wells near Braunton. The remainder of the flock then alighted near some boys who were sliding close to (or almost in) the town of Braunton, who pelted them with stones, upon which the birds flew off, and have not since been seen or heard of. The two killed weighed upwards of nine pounds each. Their sex unfortunately was not ascertained when opened, but, judging from their appearance, I should say they were male and female, and young birds of the year. The flesh of one, if not both, was eaten, and said to have proved excellent, but considered to resemble various kinds of meat, one of which was beef. I was much pleased with the sight of Braunton Burrows, an extensive tract of sand-hills bordering the sea, and once the famed locality for Deilephila Euphorbise, and the varied character of the country in the vicinity appears suitable and attractive to all kinds of zoological rarities.

Richard's Pipit and Pallas's Sandgrouse have been killed there, and on calling at the house of a gentleman in Braunton we were shown a lovely specimen of the elegant Cream-coloured Courser (Cursorius isabellinus) well mounted and in nearly perfect adult male plumage, showing only a few faint semi-linear markings peculiar to the young.

The last Great Bustard killed in North Devon previous to the above mentioned occurred at Bratton Clovelly in 1851, and was recorded by me in The Naturalist: I saw that bird in the flesh, and examined the contents of its stomach, which consisted of turnip-leaves mixed with a quantity of flat stones, some about the size of a sixpence. The down at the base of the feathers of this as well as those of the Braunton birds were of a beautiful rose-colour, which soon faded to a dull yellow.

Most of the country people in the neighbourhood of Braunton considered the bustards to be wild turkeys, and a paragraph worded as follows appeared in the North Devon Journal: - "Wild Fowl. - During Christmas week a flock of eight wild turkeys visited this parish, and alighted in a field at Croyde. They were seen by Mr. William Quick, who followed and shot one, which weighed upwards of 9lbs., and was much admired. The others soon took their flight to the west, and have not made a second appearance".

When at the Barnstaple Railway Station we observed a man with some feathers in his hat, and on speaking to him concerning them he replied, taking off his hat and pointing to a particular one, "This here, sir, belonged to one of them turkey buzzards".'

In an Editorial (1871) in The Field of 7th Jan., Vol. XXXVII. p 6, he says: 'But, strange to say, this is not the only specimen met with; for we have since heard from Mr. James Rowe, of High Street, Barnstaple, N. Devon, that he has purchased two other Bustards, which were shot on the Dec. 31 on Braunton Sands. They also were both females, weighing 9 lb. and 7 lb. respectively, one dark in colour, and the other light.'

J. E. Harting (1871) in The Field of 14th Jan., Vol. XXXVII. p. 19, says: 'On hearing last week that two Great Bustards had been shot at Braunton, North Devon - a neighbourhood, by the way, which I visited in September - I at once wrote to make inquiries of my friend, Rev. M. A. Mathews, Vicar of Bishop's Lydeard, who has become the fortunate possessor of one of the birds. His reply was as follows: - "It is quite true about the Devonshire Great Bustards. A flock of seven appeared in the parish of Braunton, and some farmers who went after them shot two and wounded a third. Ignorant what the birds were, and of their value, they proceeded to pluck them for feathers for their wives' and daughters' hats! It was only accidental that the two birds were preserved from total destruction. They were purchased by Rowe, the birdstuffer at Barnstaple, and both are coming to Bishop's Lydeard - one immediately to our friend Cecil Smith; the other is mine, and will stay for a short time on view at Barnstaple. It is not unlikely that others may be obtained; the wounded one, at least, should be brought to book".

In a postscript he adds:"The wounded bird has since been captured". Such are the details that I have been able to collect.'

Cecil Smith of Taunton (1871) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. VI. pp. 2475-76, undated, says: 'The most interesting ornithological event since the irruption of the Sand Grouse is certainly the occurrence of a flock of as many as seven Great Bustards at Braunton, near Barnstaple. Two out of the seven (both, I am told, females, one weighing seven pounds, the other nine pounds), were shot, one at Braunton on the 31st of December, 1870, and the other at a place called Croyde, a few miles off, where the seven had been seen that morning and on the next day: both of these were preserved by Mr. Rowe, the gunmaker, at Barnstaple, from whom I received these particulars.

I have been fortunate enough to obtain one of these birds; it is, I should think, a young bird of the year, as I have seen larger specimens: its weight, mentioned above, would also lead to the same conclusion. A few of the tall-feathers have been plucked out, probably for the purpose of ornamenting the Sunday hats of the young ladies of Braunton and Croyde; with that exception, it is a very good, clean, brightly marked specimen.

As I was not lucky enough to see the bird in the flesh, I could not note the colour of the eyes and other soft parts. The breast-bone, which I was fortunate enough to obtain, measures 7 inches 3 lines in length, including the carenoids, and 2½ inches in breadth; depth of heel not quite 2 inches. In these it resembles the sternum of the plovers much more than that of any of the Rasorial order of birds, with which the Great Bustard is classed. The tarsus is 4 inches 8 lines, and the middle toe 2 inches 1 line. One more bird out of the flock is supposed to have been killed and eaten, as no trace of it is to be found.

The four which remain alive, probably not liking their rough usage at Braunton, have made themselves scarce, at least no more has been heard of them up to the 13th of January. Though we may regret this attack on these birds as soon as they made their appearance on our shores, we cannot be much surprised at it when we look at their great size and conspicuous plumage. Seeing how soon these birds were attacked and how they were followed up, there does not appear to be the slightest chance of our ever again numbering the Great Bustard amongst our resident British birds.

A few wanderers from the Continent may from time to time make their appearance, but there can be no reasonable hope of their being allowed to remain to breed: the number of guns about almost everywhere, in spite of the gun tax, would in itself be almost sufficient to prevent their remaining in any quantities, but high farming, horse-hoes, drills and reaping machines are more formidable enemies to the great bustard than even breech-loaders. In the days of flint and steel guns, broad-cast sowing and much wild uncultivated land, he might have had a chance, but Nature brings not back the mastodon, Nor we those days.'

Murray A. Mathew of Bishop's Lydeard (1871) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. VI. p. 2510, dated 29th January 1871, says: 'My father writes to me from Instow that he recently had some conversation with a gentleman who had been invited to sup off a Great Bustard, so that it is really, a fact that the third of the Braunton bustards was doomed to the spit. The flesh of the bird was described as very good, and dark like that of a hare. The bird which met this ignominious fate was shot on wing, and fell with a broken pinion, and is said to have been one of a flock of eight.'

Cecil Smith (1871) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. VI. p. 2642, says: 'In the April number of The Zoologist you ask for information regarding the occurrence of the Great Bustards in Cornwall. I can only help you by saying that the Braunton bustards were seen again soon after they left Braunton in the neighbourhood of Holsworthy, which is in Devonshire, but getting very near to the border of Cornwall; but others must have joined them before they got there, as I am told they still kept up the number (seven) that were seen at Braunton: as two of these had certainly been killed, and one was supposed to be badly wounded, the flock seen at Braunton must therefore have been larger than was supposed or three more must have joined them. None were obtained at Holsworthy.'

Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 207, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'Three, out of seven, were obtained in the following December [1870] at Braunton, North Devon.'

Pidsley (1891: 125) erroneously states the year of occurrence as 1871.

27). 1870-71 Northumberland Hepburn Moor, Chillingham, trapped, winter.

(Bolam, 1912).

History Bolam (1912: 503) says: 'A specimen was, however, caught in a rabbit-trap upon Hepburn Moor, adjoining Chillingham, in the winter of 1870-71. It was stuffed by its captor, a rabbit-catcher, and was still in his possession when he left the neighbourhood some years later, being, of course, well known amongst his associates, though little talked about, owing to fears of possible consequences had its capture become bruited abroad.'

28). 1871 Northumberland Fenham Flats, female, killed, 2nd January, now at Berwick Museum, the other remained for ten days and was probably the one caught on Hepburn Moor, Chillingham.

("Tweed" Field 14th Jan., 1871: 19; J. Watson, jun., Zoologist 1871: 2473-74; J. Hardy, History of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club 6: 247; J. H. Gurney, Zoologist 1871: 2510; Hancock, 1874; Bolam, 1912; Galloway & Meek, 1978-83).

History "Tweed" of Berwick-on-Tweed (1871) in The Field of 14th Jan., Vol. XXXVII. p. 19, dated 10th January, says: 'There was a fine specimen of the bustard shot on the 2nd inst. by Mr. Wm. Harvey, at Fenham Marshes, near this town. It is now in the hands of Mr. Reid, of this town, birdstuffer, for the purpose of preserving.'

J. Watson, jun., of Gateshead (1871) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. VI. pp. 2473-74, dated 16th January 1871, says: 'When up at Holy Island, on the Northumberland coast, last week, I heard that a Great Bustard had been shot by Mr. Harvey, of Fenham. On inquiry I find it to be a very fine large female. It is now in the possession of Mr. Gregg [Gregson], of Low Lynn, Northumberland.'

James Hardy (1869-72) in the History of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club, Vol. VI. p. 247, says: 'One of these now rare birds was shot at Fenham Flats, by a farm-servant, in the first week of January, 1871. Another was seen about ten days afterwards.'

J. H. Gurney of Totnes (1871) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. VI. p. 2510, dated 13th February 1871, says: 'As the occurrence of a Great Bustard in Northumberland, recorded in the last number of The Zoologist (s.s. p. 2473), is mentioned without the date when the bird was obtained, I applied for this information to the purchaser of the specimen, Mr. Henry Gregson, of Low Lynn, near Beal, Northumberland, who has been so good as to inform me that it was a female bird, and was shot on the 2nd of January last by a man named William Harvey, at Fenham, on the coast, of Northumberland, about, ten miles from Berwick-on-Tweed; also that the specimen is now in the possession of Mr. Valentine Knight, of Folkestone, for whom it was purchased by Mr. Gregson.'

Hancock (1874: 95) says: 'A specimen of the Great Bustard was shot on the 2nd of January 1871, at Fenham Flats, Holy Island, and came into the possession of Henry Gregson, Esq., of Low Lynn.'

Bolam (1912: 504) says: 'During the same winter, at the time of the Franco-German war, when exceptionally severe weather was experienced on the Continent, a considerable number of Bustards appeared in Great Britain, and, in addition to several examples killed in different parts of the country, a fine female specimen, now in Berwick Museum, was shot on Fenham Flats, on and January, 1871, by Reed, who has repeatedly told me that two of the birds appeared together, and that the survivor remained in the neighbourhood for about ten days, but eluded all attempts to secure it.* It is just possible that it may have been the same bird which was trapped at Hepburn (already referred to), but the exact date of whose capture could not be ascertained.

The Fenham specimen was recorded at the time in The Field, and The Zoologist (s.s. p. 2510), and was likewise referred to by Gray in the Birds of the West of Scotland (p. 248), but the other has until now remained unnoticed.'

*As there is some discrepancy between the account given here and in the recently published Fauna of Tweed Area, it seems well to state that, having been familiar with the facts, and the people concerned, I have no hesitation in allowing Reed's name to stand as the shooter of the bird. There was more than one claimant for the honour, and the bird was twice sold, by different claimants and to different purchasers, first to the late Mr. Valentine Knight, brother of Mr. Gregson, of Lowlynn, and almost immediately afterwards to the late Mr. Grey, of Milfield. Serious trouble threatened, the letters passing through the hands of my late father, but Mr. Knight retained possession of the bird, which, having been mounted by Charles Gordon, of Dover, remained in his collection, till the latter was purchased for Berwick Museum, where the specimen still is.

It was by an inexactitude that it was described as in Mr. Gregson's collection, there never having been any collection of stuffed birds at Lowlynn.'

Comment The sight record was not seen by a competent authority, nor recorded in the major journals and is unacceptable.

29). 1871 Wiltshire Maddington, Salisbury Plain, three, one female, shot, 23rd January; two of same, Berwick St James, Devizes, one male shot, 26th January, both now at Salisbury Museum.

(H. Blackmore, Zoologist 1871: 2477, 2510-11; J. Wyndham, Field 28th Jan., 1871: 70; J. Wyndham, Zoologist 1871: 2511; F. Stratton, Field 28th Jan., 1871: 70; F. Stratton, Zoologist 1871: 2511-12; J. V. Newbery, Field 28th Jan., 1871: 70; Eds., Zoologist 1871: 2511; J. E. Harting, Field 4th Feb., 1871: 83; W. Brown, Field 4th Feb., 1871: 83; Mansel-Pleydell, 1873, 1888; T. Norwood, Country 8: 39; C. Smith, Zoologist 1883: 450; Smith, 1887; D'Urban & Mathew, 1895; T. Sheppard, Naturalist 49: 87; Buxton, 1981).

History Henry Blackmore of Salisbury (1871) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. VI. p. 2477, dated 25th January, 1871, says: 'Mr. Lywood, of the Manor Farm, Maddington, brought me yesterday a Great Bustard, which was killed the previous day (23rd instant) near Maddington, a village in the heart of Salisbury Plain: he had observed the birds, three in number, the previous day, and watched them for some time, but having his gun loaded only with ordinary shot, did not fire for fear of disturbing them: it was shot by Stephen Smith, a labourer in his employ, who was bird-keeping. Smith put a marble into his gun, and when he fired the three birds were over 130 yards from him; the marble broke the wing of one, and after it fell one of its companions passed round near the spot, not more than fifteen yards from the man's head, and he described its flight as similar to that of a Curlew.

The bird, which is a female, is in excellent plumage and very fair condition, although she had nothing whatever in her crop. Weight 7¼ lbs.; spread of wings 62 inches; and 31 inches from beak to end of tail. Mr. Lywood has presented the specimen to our Museum, and it was this morning sent to Mr. King, of Warminster, to be preserved.'

John Wyndham of Sutton Mandeville, Salisbury (1871) in The Field of 28th Jan., Vol. XXXVII. p. 70, dated 24th January, and in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. VI.p. 2511, dated 24th January 1871, quoting from The Field of 28th January 1871, says: 'After a lapse of some fifty years, a bustard has been shot on Salisbury Plain. It was shot yesterday on Mr. Lywood's farm, near Yarnborough Castle, an old Roman encampment, about three miles N.E. of Wylye station on the Salisbury branch of the Great Western Railway.

It was being exhibited in Salisbury today, but I did not hear of it till I was on the point of leaving the town. My informant tells me he thought it was a young hen bird, as far as he could judge, and that there were two others in company with it when shot. It is in the possession of Mr. Stevens, of Salisbury, who I have no doubt will have it preserved and add it to his interesting museum.'

F. Stratton of Gore Farm, Lavington, Devizes (1871) in The Field of 28th Jan., Vol. XXXVII. p. 70, and in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. VI. pp. 2511-12, says: 'A bustard was moved four times on his farm on Monday last [23rd]. I see in Devizes Gazette that one has been killed about five miles away by a gentleman who was more fortunate than myself.'

[Probably this was the bird mentioned above by Mr. Wyndham. - Ed.]

[Both these records, as well as a third somewhat obscurely worded, and calling the bird a "little bustard", appear to relate to the first specimen recorded by Mr. Blackmore (s.s. p. 2477). - E. Newman.]

J. V. Newbery of Longbridge Deverill (1871) in The Field of 28th Jan., Vol. XXXVII. p. 70, dated 25th January, under 'Little Bustard in Wiltshire', says: 'On Monday the 23rd inst., at Maddington, a village on Salisbury Plain, I was shown, through the courtesy of a gentleman, a bird which I took to be the Little Bustard. It was in company with two others when shot by the keeper that morning.

It was very like in colour the turkey bustard, such as I have seen in China, but much smaller - about the size of a small turkey poult. The colour was somewhat of a dirty yellow or light fawn, the feathers of the back and wings being pencilled laterally with a dark reddish-brown; head a dull blue or slate; legs and feet blue, and like a Turkey's. I saw it again with the vicar of the parish, who was of my opinion that it was a bustard; and he further added that they were formerly found on Salisbury Plain, but he fancied they had been extinct for many years. Would you kindly state if it is likely to be the bustard, and if it is now a rare bird in England or no?'

[Our correspondent appears to have confounded two separate species, the Little Bustard (Otis tetrax) which is an occasional winter visitant to this country, and the Great Bustard (Otis tarda), which was formerly resident, and frequented, amongst other places, Salisbury Plain.

From the size and description it is probable that the former is the species which has been recently obtained at Maddington. Several examples of the Great Bustard, however, have lately been procured in various parts of the country, as mentioned in The Field of Jan. 7 and Jan. 14, and in our present impression. - Ed.]

Henry Blackmore of Salisbury (1871) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. VI. pp. 2510-11, dated 4th February 1871, says: 'You will be interested to learn that two Great Bustards were seen on Thursday, the 26th of January, at Berwick St. James, near Mr. Erlysman C. Pinckney's house. Mr. Pinckney and two of his men went in pursuit, and his bailiff, Lindsey, succeeded in shooting one of the birds with a bullet; the other pitched on the Down, and then flew off in the direction of Chitterne: they were flying about fifty feet from the ground.

The bird killed is a male, and in good plumage; weight fifteen pounds, length from beak to end of tail forty inches; spread of wing from tip to tip seven feet. Berwick St. James is an adjoining village to Maddington, where the other bird was shot that I sent you an account of last week. I have not yet seen Mr. Pinckney's bird, but the above particulars are to be relied upon, as Mr. Pinckney brought them to me himself a few days ago. I omitted to tell you we had quite a feast off Mr. Lywood's bird on Tuesday (eleven of us); we were unanimous in praising the excellence of the meat; in flavour it more nearly approached golden plover than any other bird we could compare it to.'

Further, p. 2511, Mr. Blackmore adds: 'PS. - I saw Mr. Pinckney, the owner of the bird I wrote you about on the 4th, a few days ago, and he told me the crop was full of turnip-greens and the young blades of wheat; the gizzard was quite empty: he invited some friends to partake of it, and they all agreed in considering the flavour of the bird excellent, and resembling teal or very good leveret.

In the gizzard of Mr. Lywood's bird, Dr. Blackmore, who dissected it, found two small pieces of flint, one an inch long by half an inch wide, and the other rather less, and some turnip-greens: its crop, I think I named in my former letter, was empty. Dr. Blackmore has preserved the breast-bone, &c., but I have not been able to see him before posting this letter, to furnish you with the particulars as to size, &c.'

J. E. Harting (1871) in The Field of 4th Feb., Vol. XXXVII. p. 83, says: 'Notwithstanding, the description given by Mr. Newbery in last Saturday's Field of a bustard shot at Maddington on the 23rd January, and his reference to its small size, from which it was inferred to be the Little Bustard, there is now good reason for believing that the bird in question was a young female of the Great Bustard, and the same was recorded by Mr. Wyndham (in the same number of The Field) as having been shot near Yarnborough Castle. On reading the two reports it will be seen that in each case the bird was killed on the 23rd January, and out of a flock of three.

Now, as Maddington is close to Yarnborough Castle, and in the heart of Salisbury Plain, we may reasonable infer that Mr. Wyndham and Mr. Newbery were referring to the same bird. This view is confirmed by a letter from Mr. Henry Blackmore, of Salisbury, which has just appeared in The Zoologist, for February, and in which it is stated that the weight of the bird was 7¼ lb.; extent of wings, 62 in.; and the length from bill to end of tail 31 in.'

William Brown of Elm Lodge, Devizes (1871) in The Field of 4th Feb., Vol. XXXVII. p. 83, dated 31st January, says: 'I had on Monday the pleasure of examining a very fine specimen of the Great Bustard, which was killed on Jan. 26 on Mr. E. C. Pinckney's farm at Berwick St. James, by his bailiff, Mr. Lindsay. It is now at Mr. Grant's, at Devizes, to be preserved. This one is much larger than that mentioned in last week's Field as having been killed at Maddington. It weighs over 15 lb., and is in fine plumage, but is wanting in the barbs at the side of the head as shown in prints of the bird.

Three were seen together in the first place, two of which have been brought to bag; the third was seen on the Plain on Sunday. It seems that two were together when Mr. Lindsay shot his bird, and both were within shot; but it was suffered to escape, in the excitement incident to meeting with such a rarity. The places spoken of are on the borders of Salisbury Plain, and not far apart.'

Mansel-Pleydell (1873: 24) says: 'A small flock of five [these three and two seen in February] appeared on Salisbury Plain in 1870, one of which (a male) was killed by a bird-keeping boy, whose gun was charged with a marble: this single projectile proved fatal to the bird. Another (a female) shortly afterwards shared a similar fate (by shot). Both are now preserved in the Salisbury Museum.'

Cecil Smith of Bishop's Lydeard (1883) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. VII. p. 450, under the title of 'During a West-Country Drive', which included a visit to Salisbury Museum sometime between 20th July and 7th August, says: 'There are several cases of Great Bustards in the museum; but only one of these is mentioned in the catalogue, and seems to have come from Malton, Yorkshire.

There are several other Great Bustards from the neighbourhood of Salisbury, which appear to have escaped mention in the catalogue. This omission, however, does not so much matter, as a label on the case gives the history of the specimens; amongst them is the Bustard shot by a bird-keeper with a marble at Maddington, near Salisbury, as recorded in The Zoologist for 1871 (pp. 2477, 2510). The collection of birds is a large one, but would have been of greater interest if local specimens were more clearly distinguished either in the catalogue or on the labels.'

Accepted locally (Smith 1887: 361-364) who details further correspondence.

T. Sheppard, Editor and Curator of Hull Museum (1923) in the new series of The Naturalist, Vol. XLIX. p. 87, says: 'The photograph reproduced herewith represents a fine pair of Yorkshire Great Bustards now in the Municipal Museum, Hull.

They are referred to in Nelson's Birds of Yorkshire as having been killed near Malton in 1825, and were then in the Blackmore Museum, Salisbury, to the authorities of which we are indebted for kindly allowing them to come to Hull.

The specimens have been re-set recently, but attached to the case is the following label, from the nature of the lettering, etc., of which it is obviously the original label put on by the Blackmore Museum, and we should imagine is contemporary with the original case: - "Pair, male and female, Great Bustards (Otis tarda), killed at Malton, Yorkshire, 1825.

From the collection of the late Mr. Milton, Great Marlborough Street, London, and deposited in the Salisbury Museum by Mr. Henry Blackmore".

The particular specimens are described by Thomas Norwood of Salisbury, in Country, Vol. VIII. 11th January, 1877, page 39. I had difficulty tracing this old journal, and eventually Mr. R. F. Sharp, Deputy Keeper of the Department of Printed Books, British Museum, was good enough to supply me with the following copy of the entry referred to: - "The Bustards in the Blackmore Museum...are those of the Great Bustard. They are four birds, two males and two females. One pair killed at Malton, Yorkshire, in 1825. The height of the male is a little under 3 ft., the tuft of feathers on each side of the lower bill about 6 ins. in length; the height of the female about 26 ins. Of the other pair, the male was shot at Berwick St. James, Wilts., 26th January, 1871. The height of this bird is 3 ft., the tuft of feathers on the lower bill is about 2 ins. in length.

From this I should suppose it was a young bird. Another was in company with this one when shot, and, from the description given me at the time, I have no doubt that it was a male bird. The female was shot at Maddington, Wilts., 23rd January, 1871, by a boy employed in keeping Rooks off the wheat. He approached the bird within seventy or eighty yards, and, having the gun loaded with a marble, so shot it. All these birds are in excellent plumage and condition". Thos. Norwood.'

32). 1871 Wiltshire Winterbourne Stoke, two, seen, 22nd February.

(E. Newman, Zoologist 1871: 2528-29; Mansel-Pleydell, 1873, 1888; D'Urban & Mathew, 1895; Buxton, 1981).

History Edward Newman (1871) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. VI. pp. 2528-29, says: 'Mr. Blackmore, of Salisbury, informs me that two bustards, a male and female, were seen at Winterbourne Stoke, on Wednesday, the 22nd of February: they were not molested.'

Mansel-Pleydell (1873: 24) says: 'A small flock of five [these two and the three seen/shot in January] appeared on Salisbury Plain in 1870, one of which (a male) was killed by a bird-keeping boy, whose gun was charged with a marble: this single projectile proved fatal to the bird. Another (a female) shortly afterwards shared a similar fate (by shot). Both are now preserved in the Salisbury Museum.'

34). 1875 Sussex Near Brighton, seen, mid-December; presumed same, near Ripe, Eastbourne, female, shot, 12th January 1876.

("Nuthatch" Field 15th Jan., 1876: 51; J. F. Gottwaltz, Field 22nd Jan., 1876: 84; J. F. Gottwalts, Zoologist 1876: 4800-01; Yarrell, 1871-85; Borrer, 1891; Walpole-Bond, 1938; Shrubb, 1979).

History "Nuthatch" (1876) in The Field, of 15th January, Vol. XLVII. p. 51, says: 'A bustard was observed several times by a friend of mine on the downs near Brighton during the week preceding Christmas Day. I should like to hear whether it was seen by any of your subscribers.'

[In October, 1779, Gilbert White wrote to his friend Daines Barrington, "There are bustards on the wide downs near Brighthelmston"; and in November, 1782, he was informed that about twelve years previously a flock of eighteen bustards had been seen at one time on a farm on the downs, between Andover and Winton, "and once since only two".

We are not aware that any specimens of the Great Bustard has been seen or procured on the Sussex or Hampshire downs since that date. - Ed.]

J. F. Gottwaltz of Eastbourne (1876) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. XI. pp. 4800-01, quoting from The Field, of January 15th, 1876, says: 'A bustard was observed several times by a friend of mine on the downs near Brighton during the week preceding Christmas Day. I should like to hear whether it was seen by any of your subscribers. In your edition of January 15th a correspondent speaks of a bustard having been seen on the downs near Brighton the week before Christmas.

I can now inform you that a bustard, doubtless the same bird, was obtained in the vicinity - i.e., some ten or twelve miles from this place - on Friday, the 14th of January, and the specimen is now in the possession of Mr. B. Bates, naturalist, &c., of this town. The bird is a female, apparently almost two years old - at all events, not a bird of the year. It had been observed some little time previously, and had been seen flying across Pevensey Marsh, and I believe in other localities. It received its death-wound from a man who saw it flying over his head. It was hit hard, but did not fall. The next day two men observed it in a field. It then could not rise, but managed to escape by running and fluttering. The individual who had wounded it then searched for some time fruitlessly, and the bird was discovered at length lying dead in a hedge. It is a grand bird, weighing eight pounds.'

[The first of these records is pseudonymous, and therefore only admissable in The Zoologist as corroborated by the second. I trust that, owing to recent enactments on behalf of our wild birds, these "last appearances" may become of as frequent recurrence as on another stage - Edward Newman.]

J. F. Gottwaltz of South Bank, Eastbourne (1876) in The Field, of 22nd January, Vol. XLVII. p. 84, says: 'In your edition of Saturday last a correspondent speaks of a bustard having been seen on the downs near Brighton, the week before Christmas. I can now inform you that a bustard, doubtless the same bird, was obtained in the vicinity - i.e., some ten or twelve miles from this place - on Friday, the 14th of January, and the specimen is now in the possession of Mr. B. Bates, naturalist, &c., of this town.

The bird is a female, apparently almost two years old - at all events, not a bird of the year. It had been observed some little time previously, and had been seen flying across Pevensey Marsh, and I believe in other localities. It received its death-wound from a man who saw it flying over his head. It was hit hard, but did not fall. The next day two men observed it in a field. It then could not rise, but managed to escape by running and fluttering. The individual who had wounded it then searched for some time fruitlessly, and the bird was discovered at length lying dead in a hedge. It is a grand bird, weighing eight pounds.

Yarrell, in my edition of his work, says: the last recorded instance of his capture in England was near the Lizard Point, in 1843.'

Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 207, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'On the 14th of January, 1876, a female was shot on the Downs of Sussex, near Eastbourne (ibid. January 22nd), and came into the possession of Mr. T. Monk, of Lewes.'

Admitted locally by Borrer (1891: 200) and Walpole-Bond (1938 (3): 319) who says: '...In my belief this is identical with the bird that, seen subsequently in several spots round Eastbourne (notably Pevensey Level), was at length shot at Ripe, not far from Firle, on the following 12th of January. I have adopted these data fearlessly, because I place perfect faith in Mr. A. F. Griffith's acumen in ascertaining facts, though I am well aware that the Editor of the fourth edition of Yarrell's British Birds (Vol. III. p. 207), for instance, apportions the "Downs near Eastbourne" (there are no downs at Ripe) as the locality and January 14th as the day of demise.

In part, no doubt, this information was derived from the specimen's original recorder, Mr. J. F. Gottwaltz (Field, 22/i/1876). As minor points of interest, it may be added, on Griffith's authority, that the bird was not retrieved until January 13th (it had been shot at dusk on the 12th and had then "carried on" and fallen into a wood) and that it was then sold for half-a-crown (just think of it!) to Bates, the Eastbourne taxidermist, who ultimately disposed of it to Mr. T. J. Monk of Lewes.

On Monk's death it was acquired for the Dyke Road Museum, Brighton.'

35.0). 1876 Norfolk Black Dyke Fen, Hockwold, male, 24th January to 22nd February; also in Suffolk.

(H. M. Upcher, Zoologist 1876: 4882; H. M. Upcher, Field 8th Apr., 1876: 413; H. Stevenson, Zoologist 1876: 4897; H. Stevenson, Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society 2: 307-311; Yarrell, 1871-85; Southwell, 1890; Ticehurst, 1932).

History H. M. Upcher of Feltwell (1876) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. XI. p. 4882, undated, says: 'A Great Bustard took up his abode in my fen on the 24th of January, 1876, in a piece of coleseed. He seemed to consider this field quite as private property, for I do not think he was ever absent for a whole day till the 24th of February.

Lord Lilford most kindly sent me a female bustard, which I turned out on Thursday, February 10th, in the presence of Professor Newton, Messrs, Harting, Salvin. E. Newton, and F. Newcome. The male flew away whilst I was trying to drive the very tame hen up the field towards him. He, however, returned before we left, in less than an hour, and, though not close together, we left them in the same field. They, however, very soon made it up, and Saturday and Sunday they spent side by side, the male bird strutting round the hen and traping his wings like a turkey cock.

The fearful weather on Sunday night and the next day, alas! proved too much for the tame bird, and on Tuesday she was found dead in a ditch. This was most grievous, as they were getting on so capitally. On the 21st of February Lord Lilford sent another hen: it was a very stormy day, so I dared not turn her out after the fate of No. 1, but shut her up in a little hut of hurdles and straw which I had built for No. 1, but which she would not take advantage of. The next morning the male was not far from the hut, and the keeper went down to let the female out, but he flew away. In the afternoon he passed over the field, but did not alight, and went on to Stockwold; thence to Eriswell and Elvedon, the seat of His Highness Maharajah Duleep Singh, where he was seen in the park.

This is the last place where I can hear any tidings of him. I hope he is now in a place of safety.'

Henry Stevenson of Norwich (1876) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. XI. p. 4897, dated 5th April 1876, says: 'The Great Bustard. - Having been unfortunately prevented by illness from visiting Hockwold at the time when the fine male bustard, recorded by H. M. Upcher (s.s. p. 4882) took up its temporary quarters in the "Fen", I can add nothing further to his record than that no tidings have since been received of the noble stranger.'

Southwell, Editor (1890 (3): 405-407) in Stevenson's Birds of Norfolk, under 'Appendix' says: 'One occurrence of the bustard in this county remains to be noticed, and that was attended by some circumstances so remarkable as to render it almost unique in the annals of British ornithology. Though on the birds first appearance hostile steps were taken against it, they were fortunately ineffectual until better counsels prevailed, as they speedily did, and the visitor then received the utmost consideration from Mr. H. M. Upcher, on whose land at Hockwold it took up its abode, while every inducement for it to prolong its stay was offered.

The arrival of the bird was made known to Mr. Upcher on the 24th January, 1876, and on his going to the place, a field of coleseed, where he was told he should see it, he found to his astonishment that it was a fine male. He at once gave orders that it should not be disturbed, and the situation it had selected, being in the heart of Blackdyke Fen, bounded by wide ditches, was a pretty safe one.

Here it was seen for several days in succession, though it occasionally shifted its position at the approach of any person, always returning to the coleseed, however, at nightfall. On the 2nd and 3rd of February it was observed by Mr. (now Sir) Edward Newton, and Messrs. Francis and Edward Newcome - on the latter of these days Professor Newton being also of the party.

On the 8th Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., went to the place and had a good view it. The same day Mr. Upcher received by telegram an offer from Lord Lilford, who had been informed of the occurrence, of a hen bustard to turn out in the hope that her presence would induce the cock to remain. The offer was joyfully accepted: the bird arrived the next day, and on the 10th of February Mr. Upcher assembled a party of wedding guests, including the Messrs. Newcome, Sir Edward and Professor Newton, Mr. Salvin, and Mr. Harting, who had come from London expressly to be present.

The hen bustard was accordingly released, the greatest care being taken not to alarm the cock in so doing. He, however, took wing, and though he soon returned, yet a snowstorm, which unhappily came on, had caused her to move away from the spot where he alighted. That night there was a sharp frost followed next day by a fog, so that it could not be seen whether the two birds had joined company; but on the 12th and 13th both were observed by the watcher, whom Mr. Upcher employed for the purpose, to be walking about together - and indeed the male was reported as strutting and "traping his wings like a turkey-cock".

The next night, however, there unfortunately fell a deep snow: the male was seen close to the shelter of hurdles and straw which had been prepared for the female, who was supposed to be inside it, but she was not visible. The weather again changed: in the evening it blew a gale, and rained in torrents. On the 15th the snow had all gone, but the rain continued. The hen bustard was reported missing, and on search being made she was found dead in one of the ditches, having apparently crept for shelter into the grass by its side. On hearing of this disaster Lord Lilford liberally despatched a second female, which arrived on the 21st, but the weather was so bad that Mr. Upcher was afraid to turn her loose, and left her in the hut with a hurdle across the front. The cock bird was then on the ground, and seemed to have become accustomed to the presence of man. The next day, seeing him not very far from the hut the keeper went to liberate the hen; but, while so engaged, the cock unfortunately took wing. He returned in the evening, but settled on another piece of ground, where he was observed on the 23rd; but in the afternoon he was seen flying towards Brandon, and he never again, so far as is known, returned to Hockwold.

On the 24th he was seen at Eriswell, and on the 25th at Elveden, after which nothing was heard of him, though enquiries were made in all the surrounding districts by Mr. Upcher, who was at much trouble to ensure his neighbours taking an interest in the bird, and to him and to Lord Lilford the thanks of all true naturalists are due. The story of this unparalleled incident, which but for the unfavourable weather might have been followed by a very different result, here briefly told, will be found more fully narrated by Mr. Upcher in The Field of 8th April, 1876, whence it has been reprinted by Mr. Stevenson (Trans. of the Norfolk and Norwich Nat. Soc., II. pp. 307-311), and by Mr. Harting in his Essays: on Sport and Natural History (pp. 332-340).'

35.1). 1876 Suffolk Eriswell, male, 24th February; same, Elveden, 25th February; same as Hockwold, Norfolk.

(H. M. Upcher, Zoologist 1876: 4882; Ticehurst, 1932).

History H. M. Upcher of Feltwell (1876) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. XI. p. 4882, undated, says: 'A Great Bustard took up his abode in my fen [Norfolk] on the 24th of January, 1876, in a piece of coleseed....The next morning the male was not far from the hut, and the keeper went down to let the female out, but he flew away.

In the afternoon he passed over the field, but did not alight, and went on to Stockwold; thence to Eriswell and Elvedon, the seat of His Highness Maharajah Duleep Singh, where he was seen in the park. This is the last place where I can hear any tidings of him. I hope he is now in a place of safety.'

Accepted locally (Ticehurst 1932: 326).

36). 1876 Orkney New Holland, Stronsay, adult female, shot, 29th March.

(J. Bruce, Field 8th Apr., 1876: 414; J. Bruce, Zoologist 1876: 4927-28; J. Bruce, Field 15th Apr., 1876: 464; Buckley & Harvie-Brown, 1891; Witherby, 1920-24; Eds., British Birds 19: 55; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953).

History John Bruce of Kirkwall (1876) in The Field, of 8th April, Vol. XLVII. p. 414, and in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. XI. pp. 4927-28, quoting from The Field, of 8th April, 1876, says: 'You may be interested to learn that a Great Bustard was shot here on March 29. On that date, Mr. W. Stephenson, of New Holland, Stronsay, seeing a large number of gulls circling over some object in one of his fields, and thinking it might be one of his sheep dead, went towards them, and discovered the object of their interest to be a large and strange bird. It seemed so tame that he attempted to drive it to the farmstead, but it at length took wing, and, after flying for about a mile, returned over the same field, when Mr. Stephenson killed it with an almost vertical shot, at what he considered to be about one hundred yards from the ground.

The bird coincided in every respect with the description given by Yarrell of the Great Bustard, and the ill-developed plumes on the chin showed it to be a female bird of mature age. The stomach was perfectly packed with partially digested grass and green stuff, and the ovary contained several eggs in a very early stage of formation. The body was muscular and in good condition, but almost entirely destitute of fat, the total weight being nine pounds and three-quarters. The stretch of the wings was four feet ten inches and a half; length from tip of beak to tip of tail, two feet eleven inches; circumference over folded wings, one foot nine inches and a half; and height, with neck slightly curved backwards, two feet six inches.'

John Bruce of Kirkwall (1876) in The Field, of 8th April, Vol. XLVII. p. 464, and in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. XI. pp. 4927-28, quoting from The Field of 15th April 1876, says: 'With reference to the Great Bustard recently obtained in Orkney, I have pleasure in informing you that it has been stuffed, and is now in the possession of Mr. Stevenson, of Stronsay Vale, on whose farm and by whom it was shot. Previous to being observed in Stronsay it had been seen on an uninhabited skerry by several people, and supposed to be an eagle.

Tolerably strong easterly winds prevailed for three days before its discovery, which might have assisted it in its supposed journey from the Continent. I may add that the body, when skinned, had a strong and decidedly unpleasant aromatic odour.

When washed with fresh water this greatly disappeared, and, after being stewed, it gave myself and several other gentlemen who tasted it the idea of coarse-grained meat, with the flavour of jugged hare.

There is no record, so far as I can discover, of the Great Bustard having visited these islands before.'

John Alexander Smith (1880) in the Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society, Vol. V. p. 33, read 20th Nov., 1878, exhibiting the specimen, says: 'This fine specimen of a female of the Great Bustard was shot on the island of Stronsay, Orkney, in the autumn of 1877 [sic]. It is the property of Colonel Balfour of Balfour, who writes that a male bird of the same species was killed in Kent a week after this one was shot, and he supposes they may have probably been a pair of stragglers which had got separated - driven out of their course on the Continent, I suppose, by adverse winds. The female is a much smaller bird than the male.

It is now one of our rarest stragglers, or visitors, to any part of Scotland, very few instances of its occurrence being recorded, although in old times it was apparently a permanent resident. It occurred more abundantly in England. Mr. Keddie, Mr. Sanderson's assistant, has called my attention to the curious fact that the down at the roots of many of the feathers (as well as of their accessory plumes) of the Great Bustard (some of which I exhibit) are of a beautiful pink, changing above into pale buff colour.

This peculiarity is present in the feathers in different parts of the body, whether they are coloured or pure white above; it is less so, or absent, on head. He also tells me he has noticed a similar peculiarity in the Little Bustard (Otis tetrax).'

Accepted locally by Buckley & Harvie-Brown (1891: 201) who add: '...now in the possession of Mrs. Balfour of Balfour and Trenaby.'

Gladstone (1924) considered that this was doubtless the bird referred to as shot at the same place, but in 'March [April?] 1886' by Buckley & Harvie-Brown (1891, p. 201). Witherby (1920-24) says: '...once Orkneys (1886).'

In an Editorial (1925) in British Birds, Vol. XIX. p. 55, under 'The Great Bustard in Scotland', they say: 'The only records of the occurrence of stragglers during the last fifty years are given as follows: March 29th, 1876, adult female, Stronsay, Orkney (doubtless same as that quoted for 1886 in Vert. Fauna Orkney, see also Pract. Handbook, II. p. 816).'

37). 1879 Essex Hull Bridge, Woodham Ferrers, female, killed, 5th December, now at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery (Acc. No. 1924Z18.4167).

(C. Smoothy, Field 13th Dec., 1879: 817; C. Smoothy, Zoologist 1880: 26; T. Travis, Field 14th Feb., 1880: 186; T. Travis, Zoologist 1880: 110; J. E. Harting, Zoologist 1880: 144-145; R. M. Christy, Zoologist 1880: 296-297; R. M. Christy, Transactions of the Epping Forest and County of Essex Naturalists' Field Club 1: 59-64; Christy, 1890; Glegg, 1929; Hudson & Pyman, 1968; Cox, 1984; Watson, 2010).

History C. Smoothy of Chelmsford (1879) in The Field of 13th Dec., Vol. LIV. p. 819 and (1880) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. IV. p. 26, says: 'A fine specimen of the Great Bustard was shot by Mr. A. Pertwee, at Woodham Ferrers, near Hull Bridge, on December 5th. This is a very rare bird in Essex, I think the first recorded. It is now in my possession, and will make a fine addition to my collection of rare birds.'

T. Travis (1880) in The Field of 14th Feb., Vol. LV. p. 186, and in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. IV. p. 110, says: 'On the 5th December last, a Great Bustard was procured by Mr. Porter near Chelmsford. It is now in my hands for preservation.'

[The specimen shot Woodham Ferrers, Essex, on December 5th (antea p. 26), was, we have since ascertained, a hen bird, in good plumage, weighing 10 lbs. Length, 3ft. 9 in. Extent of wings, 7ft. - Ed.]

J. E. Harting, Editor (1880) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. IV. pp. 144-145, says: 'In The Zoologist for January last (p. 26) Mr. Smoothy reports a Great Bustard shot by Mr. A. Pertwee at Woodham Ferrers, near Hull Bridge, on the 5th December last. In a succeeding number (p. 110) Mr. Travis refers to a Great Bustard "procured by Mr. Porter near Chelmsford" also on December 5th. From these two statements it might be inferred that two Great Bustards had been recently obtained in Essex. It appears, however, from the report of a paper read by Mr. R. M. Christy, of Chignal, near Chelmsford, at the first meeting of the recently formed Essex Naturalists' Field Club, that this is not the case.

Both the communications above mentioned refer to one and the same bird, which was shot on December 5th by Mr. Albert Pertwee, of Woodham Ferrers, at Hull Bridge, which is some ten or twelve miles from Chelmsford.'

R. M. Christy of Chignal (1880) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. IV. pp. 296-297, says: 'I have only lately seen the last few numbers of The Zoologist and write to say that Mr. Harting is perfectly correct in stating (p. 144) that the bird referred to by Mr. Travis is the same as Mr. Smoothy's specimen.

To speak more correctly, however, I believe the locality should be close to Hull Bridge, on the River Crouch, at Woodham Ferrers. This is the only bird actually shot in the county that I have seen; but at the meeting of the Essex Naturalists' Club at which my paper was read, Mr. Fitch is reported to have said that he had "heard of two other specimens in Essex this winter, one at Manningtree and one at Maldon".

I have been unable to obtain particulars of these, and have nowhere seen there capture recorded. It is very desirable that some further information should be obtained. I have had the pleasure of examining both the Woodham and the West Wickham specimens. They are both females, and very closely resemble one another, the only difference being in the intensity of some of the colours, in which I think the former had slightly the advantage.'

R. M. Christy (1881) in the Transactions of the Epping Forest and County of Essex Naturalists' Field Club, Vol. I. pp. 59-64, says: 'As Dr. Bree observed in The Field a few weeks ago, one hears strange things this winter, and stranger, perhaps, than all else have been the variations of the weather.

A year of almost unprecedented meteorological phenomena closed with a month of still greater weather disturbances, not the least remarkable being the excessive frost on the night of December 6th. An account of the meteorology of the year 1879, and its consequences, includes an account of many of the catastrophes and events of that year. It is probably to the vagaries of the weather we must look for an explanation of the unusual fact that during the month of December last a Great Bustard was actually shot in our county.

The occurrence of so interesting a bird, and the fact that no minute account of its appearance has hitherto been made public, prompt me to present this note to the members of our County Club, as it seems to me they are the persons who should take most interest in the case. Our rare and distinguished visitor was (of course) shot, so that we cannot boast of having received it in a very hospitable manner; and the only reparation we can make is to record the visit, and thus perpetuate its memory.

The facts of the case are as follows: - On the morning of Friday, the 5th of December last, soon after daybreak, Mr. Albert Pertwee (of Woodham Ferrers) was laid up close to Hull Bridge in that parish on the north side, and under the wall of the River Crouch, for the purpose of shooting wild-fowl. While thus stationed he was surprised to observe a very large bird fly leisurely over the river and then over his head at but a very little height. His gun being loaded with No. 2 shot, he fired and brought it down, although but slightly wounded. At first he had no idea of the name of the bird, but it turned out to be a Great Bustard.

For the benefit of those who are not ornithologists I will here make a few remarks on this interesting species. So far as our own country is concerned, the Great Bustard is now almost extinct, the dawn of the present century having seen very nearly the last of it as a resident in these Islands. Indeed, one might say that it was even then quite extinct. Those stray specimens that have been met with during the last eighty years or so have been birds driven by accident or stress of weather from the Continent, where, under more favourable conditions of existence, it is still no very great rarity. During the last and the preceding centuries it might even have been called a common bird, especially on the wide open downs in Wiltshire and Sussex, and various places in Norfolk.

In Gilbert White's time it was probably not a bird of every-day occurrence, for he says: under date 1770: "There be bustards on the wide Downs near Brighthelmstone". A quaint and primitive natural history work which I possess (The Naturalist's Pocket Magazine, or Compleat Cabinet of Nature. London, 1799 and 1800) speaks of it occurring in the places mentioned, and also on Royston and Newmarket Heaths in Cambridgeshire, but admits that it was once far more common in England. The book contains a fairly good figure of the bird. I will quote a few lines describing the mode of taking them then employed: - "Where there are neither woods nor hedges to screen the sportsman, they enjoy a kind of indolent security....But though they cannot be reached by a fowling-piece, they are sometimes run down by greyhounds. Being voracious and greedy, they often sacrifice their safety to their appetites; and as they are generally very fat, they are unable to fly without much preparation: when, therefore, the greyhounds come within a certain distance, the bustards run off, clap their wings, and endeavour to gather under them air enough to rise; in the meantime the dogs are continually gaining ground, till at last it is too late for flight. However, notwithstanding the sluggishness of their usual pace, they can, when in danger, run very fast, and once fairly on the wing are able to fly several miles without resting".

There is a gentleman here at Chelmsford whose grandfather, then resident in Norfolk, used to keep greyhounds for the purpose of coursing bustards.

The pages of The Zoologist have recorded a few specimens from time to time, but in rapidly decreasing numbers, and, if I remember rightly, there have been no records for several years. This will show the interest attaching in a visit once more from the Great Bustard, and perhaps justify a rather lengthy notice of it.

The Essex specimen was brought by its owner, on the day of its death, to Chelmsford Market, and deposited for a time with our local birdstuffer. Here it was fortunately not destined long to remain. Mr. Pertwee, who valued it but slightly, not being a naturalist, after some hesitation parted with it to my friend Mr. C. Smoothy, of Bexfields, Galleywood, near Chelmsford - a very good ornithologist and an amateur taxidermist of more than average pretensions - to whose already extensive collection of rare birds, all preserved by his own hands, it forms a grand addition.

It is a matter for congratulation that instead of being roasted like a turkey by some ignorant nineteenth century heathen, it has passed into the hands of a person knowing so well how to appreciate it as Mr. Smoothy, who would, I know, be very pleased to show it to any member feeling interested enough to call upon him.

There seems to be some doubt as to whether it is a young male or a female bird, but probably it is the latter. Whether this is the case or no, it has not the imposing size and conspicuous beard of the adult male, and only weighed about ten pounds; the average weight of the male being twenty-five pounds. Its total length was about 3 feet 9 inches, and the utmost expanse of its wings exceeded seven feet.

So far as I am aware, there is no distinct and authentic record of the occurrence of the Great Bustard in Essex; but Mr. Smoothy recollects being told, many years ago, by a very aged farm-labourer, that he had once known of a nest here; and there is a hamlet called Bustard Green not far from Dunmow. Yarrell, too, mentions an advertisement in the "Spectator" for 1712, where an estate is to be let at Heydon, near Saffron Walden, with "woods of large timber where there is all game, even to the pheasant and bustard". The probability is that in its time the bustard was not a very rare bird here; but I should not imagine that it was ever abundant.

Our county has not now, nor has it had for a very long time past, those large open and uncultivated tracts of land which form the strongholds of this species. A report reached Mr. Smoothy that Mr. Wiseman, of Paglesham, had a bustard lately killed there, but on investigation it turned out to be a continental specimen.

The interest, however, does not cease with our specimen, for it appears that, early this winter, several were seen in the Channel Islands; and, I believe, on the very same day the Woodham specimen was killed one was observed in Cornwall, and some days later was caught by a dog, but it turned out to be a very weak bird, bearing old wounds. I do not pretend to have wisdom sufficient to explain the fact of the occurrence of the Great Bustard once more in this country; but if my opinion were asked, I should say the only reasonable supposition is that the weather in France, which was sharper even than with us in this country, disturbed and drove them to seek refuge elsewhere, and that a few wandered to our shores.'

Christy (1890: 230) says: 'On the morning of Friday, Dec. 5th, soon after daybreak, Mr. Albert Pertwee of Woodham Ferris was "laid up" close to Hull Bridge in that parish, on the north side and under the wall of the River Crouch, for the purpose of shooting Wild-fowl. While so stationed, he was surprised to observe a very large bird fly leisurely across the river and over his head at a small height. Being loaded with No. 2 shot, he fired, and brought down the bird, although but slightly wounded. Mr. Pertwee had no idea of the species to which the bird belonged, but brought it with him on the day of its death to Chelmsford Market, where it was purchased by Mr. Charles Smoothy.

The bird, which was a female weighing about ten pounds, was preserved by Mr. Travis, of Walden. On the night of the day following its death, there occurred one of the sharpest frosts of the present century. It is now in the possession of Mr. R. W. Chase, of Birmingham.'

Accepted locally (Glegg 1929; Hudson & Pyman 1968; Cox 1984; Wood 2007).

Watson (2010) in detailing the R. W. Chase collection in the Birmingham Museum lists this specimen and quoting from his Notebooks adds that it shot by James Pertiver. Purchased from C. Smoothy, Benfields Galley Wood, nr. Chelmsford.

38). 1879 Cornwall Wayland Talland Farm, near Looe, female, 9th to 12th December, when caught by a dog.

(S. Clogg, Field 20th Dec., 1879: 848; J. Gatcombe, Zoologist 1880: 25; Harting, 1880; Yarrell, 1871-85; Penhallurick, 1978).

History Stephen Clogg of Looe (1879) in The Field of 20th Dec., Vol. LIV. p. 848, says: 'A Great Bustard (Otis tarda) was caught by a spaniel on Wayland Talland, near Looe, on Dec. 11. It had met with an injury, or there was disease of some standing of the right ankle-joint, which might account for its capture by the dog; the bird was also in a deplorable state of emaciation. It was sent to me alive, but as it appeared in much pain, and did not make the least attempt to stand or escape when put down on the ground, I reluctantly recommended it should be killed. It was brought to me late at night, and, as I thought I should see it again by daylight, I made but a slight examination of it; but it was sent off very early the following morning without my seeing it, so I cannot give any description of it, only to say that, from its small size, I think it must be a female.'

Harting, Editor (1880) in Rodd's Birds of Cornwall, says: 'Information reached, me of the capture of another Great Bustard, a hen bird, near Looe. The particulars of its capture were communicated by Mr. Gatcombe to The Zoologist, in the form of a letter received by him from Mr. Stephen Clogg, which ran as follows: - "December 12, 1879. "Last night, between nine and ten o'clock, I had brought to me a living Great Bustard (Otis tarda) for identification, as well as to inquire if I thought it could be kept alive.

On looking it over, I found it in a most miserably starved condition, produced, I believe, chiefly from either a wound or disease of the ankle-joint. The bird had not been shot, but was caught by a spaniel dog, by which, I believe, it was much injured, as it could not stand or make the least endeavour to escape when placed on the ground. It appeared to be in great pain, so I reluctantly recommended it should be killed, which was done, and, I believe, it is to be "set up".

As you may suppose from the exhausted state of the bird, the plumage is not in the most perfect condition, and the dog in catching it tore out almost the whole of the tail, but the feathers have been preserved, so I hope that defect may be somewhat repaired. The bird was taken on a farm called Wayland Talland, about a mile from Looe. It was first observed there on Tuesday, and was seen about until the day it was captured. No doubt the injury to the leg was the reason it could not make its escape from the dog. I think, from the size of the bird and its plumage, it is a female, but as I only saw it by candlelight, and had but little time to examine it, I cannot positively say".

In a footnote is added: 'Mr. Gatcombe, who subsequently examined, it, confirmed Mr. Clogg's impression, that it was a hen bird, and found, that it measured across the wings a little over five feet four inches.'

Admitted by Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 205, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds.

39). 1879 Kent Romney Marsh, shot, late December.

(H. A. Dombrain, Zoologist 1880: 110; Ticehurst, 1909; Harrison, 1953).

History H. A. Dombrain of Westwell Vicarage, Ashford (1880) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. IV. p. 110, says: 'In addition to the list of Bustards recorded in The Zoologist (pp. 25, 26) as killed in Cornwall, Essex, and Jersey, I have to report three recently obtained in Kent. The first of these was shot at Romney Marsh towards the end of December last, the sex of which I have been able to ascertain.'

Accepted locally (Ticehurst 1909; Harrison 1953).

40.0). 1880 Dorset Sixpenny Handley, adult female, shot, 10th January, now at Horniman Museum, London (NH.83.3/235).

(E. Hart, Zoologist 1880: 110; Mansel-Pleydell, 1888; F. L. Blathwayt, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society 55: 207; Buxton, 1981).

History Edward Hart of Christchurch (1880) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. IV. p. 110, says: 'I have in my possession a Great Bustard which was shot on the 10th January last, in a turnip-field adjoining the Cranborne Downs. It proved to be a female bird, in fine condition, and weighed close on nine pounds.'

Mansel-Pleydell (1888: 76, 2nd ed.) says: 'Nearly ten years later, namely, on January 1, 1880, a hen Bustard weighing nine pounds was shot by Mr. W. Hibberd in a turnip-field at [Sixpenny] Handley, near Woodyates Inn, and was sent for preservation to Mr. Hart of Christchurch. This is the Dorsetshire specimen referred to in the fourth edition of Yarrell (1882-82, p. 208).'

Admitted by F. L. Blathwayt (1934) in the Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society, Vol. LV. p. 207, under 'A Revised List of the Birds of Dorset', who states the date as 10th January 1880.

Hart writing in May, 1927 states that this cased winter plumaged adult female was shot by W. Hibberd on 10th January 1880 at Hanley and was mounted by me.

Comment Discrepancy in the date which is probably a typo. Buxton (1981) refers to one near Salisbury which probably refers to this record as nobody recorded one for Wiltshire at the time. The two places being about 12 miles apart.

41). 1880 Kent Great Chart, near Ashford, immature female, obtained, early January, now at Rochester Museum.

(H. A. Dombrain, Zoologist 1880: 110; Ticehurst, 1909; Harrison, 1953).

History H. A. Dombrain of Westwell Vicarage, Ashford (1880) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. IV. p. 110, says: 'In addition to the list of Bustards recorded in The Zoologist (pp. 25, 26) as killed in Cornwall, Essex, and Jersey, I have to report three recently obtained in Kent....The second, an immature female bird weighing eight pound and a half, was taken early in January at Great Chard, near Ashford.'

Ticehurst (1909: 405-406) says: '...an immature female, was shot by George Marshall early in January, 1880, at Great Chart, near Ashford....These last two birds passed into the Prentis collection, and are now in the Rochester Museum.'

42). 1880 Kent Near Wye, adult male, shot, late January, now at Rochester Museum.

(H. A. Dombrain, Zoologist 1880: 110; Ticehurst, 1909; Harrison, 1953).

History H. A. Dombrain of Westwell Vicarage, Ashford (1880) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. IV. p. 110, says: 'In addition to the list of Bustards recorded in The Zoologist (pp. 25, 26) as killed in Cornwall, Essex, and Jersey, I have to report three recently obtained in Kent....and the third, a full-grown male weighing sixteen pounds, was shot near Wye about the latter end of January. This bird had been observed by the occupier of the land it was on, and he was anxious that it should be left unmolested; but a trespasser, much to his annoyance, went in pursuit and shot it.'

Ticehurst (1909: 406) says: '...while towards the end of the same month [January, 1880] the third, an adult male, was shot by John Law, near Wye. These last two birds passed into the Prentis collection, and are now in the Rochester Museum.'

40.1). 1880 Wiltshire Near Salisbury, female, shot, January; presumed same as Dorset.

(F. S. Lyddon, Hardwicke's Science Gossip 1880: 64; Buxton, 1981).

History F. S. Lyddon (1880) in Hardwicke's Science Gossip, Vol. XVI. p. 64, says: 'The Bustard was shot at Salisbury last January; it was a female, and weighed about nine lbs.'

Comment No mention is made of this by Howard Saunders (1882-84) in Yarrell's British Birds, 4th ed. Vol. III. p. 208, nor is it published in any other journal of the time. I think it is a duplicate record for Dorset, where the locality stated is twelve miles from Salisbury.

43). 1880 Cambridgeshire West Wickham, female, killed, 6th February.

(T. Travis, Zoologist 1880: 110; T. Travis, Field 14th Feb., 1880: 186; J. M. Harrison, British Birds 36: 164; Bircham, 1989).

History T. Travis of Saffron Walden (1880) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. IV. p. 110, says: 'On February 6th, a hen-bird, was taken at Mr. Jonas's at West Wickham, Cambridgeshire. It is now in my hands for preservation.'

T. Travis of Saffron Walden (1880) in The Field of 14th Feb., Vol. LV. p. 186, says: 'A female Bustard was taken at Mr. W. Jonas's, West Wickham, on Feb. 6, the only one ever taken so near Saffron Walden.'

In an Editorial (1943) in British Birds, Vol. XXXVI. p. 164, under 'A Cambridgeshire Great Bustard', they say 'Dr. J. M. Harrison informs us that a female specimen of the Great Bustard killed at West Wickham on February 6th, 1880 has come into his hands. No 1880 occurrence is mentioned in The Birds of Cambridgeshire, but we find that Cambridgeshire is mentioned in Yarrell (4th edition, Vol. III. p. 208) as one of the counties in which the bird appeared during the migration noted in the winter of 1879-1880, and this particular specimen was recorded in The Zoologist for 1880, p. 110 by T. Travis.'

44). 1883 Kent Rolvenden, male, shot, undated.

(Dowker, 1889; Ticehurst, 1909).

History Dowker (1889: 36) says: 'The Great Bustard was last seen in this district in 1883, when two specimens were met with, the male at Rolvenden and the female near Wye, and both were sent to Mr. Gordon to stuff.'

Ticehurst (1909: 406) says: 'Dowker also states, on the authority of the late Charles Gordon, through whose hands the birds passed, that a male was shot at Rolvenden....in 1883.'

45). 1883 Kent Wye, female, shot, undated.

(Dowker, 1889; Ticehurst, 1909).

History Dowker (1889: 36) says: 'The Great Bustard was last seen in this district in 1883, when two specimens were met with, the male at Rolvenden and the female near Wye, and both were sent to Mr. Gordon to stuff.'

Ticehurst (1909: 406) says: 'Dowker also states, on the authority of the late Charles Gordon, through whose hands the birds passed, …and a female was shot at Wye, in 1883.'

46). 1888 Dorset Between Compton Down and Melbury Down, seen, 17th May.

(J. C. Mansel-Pleydell, Zoologist 1888: 428-429; M. G. Stuart, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History Society and Antiquarian Field Club 11: 18; J. E. Harting, Field 28th Feb., 1891: 289; J. E. Harting, Zoologist 1891: 103-106; F. L. Blathwayt, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society 55: 207).

History J. C. Mansel-Pleydell of Whatcombe, Blandford (1888) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XII. p. 429, says: 'A Great Bustard, Otis tarda, has been frequenting the high land above Fontmill [sic], near Shaftesbury, but has lately disappeared, and unharmed.'

Morton G. Stuart, Earl of Moray, Editor (1890) in the Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History Society and Antiquarian Field Club, Vol. XI. p.18, says: 'With regard to observations in Natural History during 1888, in the County, through the kindness of Sir Richard Glyn, the appearance of the Great Bustard had been recorded. A keeper in the employ of Sir Richard Glyn stated that he first saw the bird on May 17th, 1888; it could run at a fast rate, but did not seem to fly with ease. The last time he saw it was on Compton Down; it then flew on to Melbury Down beyond Whitworth's bushes. It did not fly high, not more than a mile from where it rose. The observer never approached nearer than 150 yards. The President stated that his description coincided with Mr. Chaffin's account of the flight of Bustards which he witnessed on The Downs near Woodyates Hill, near Salisbury, 100 years ago.'

J. E. Harting, Editor (1891) in The Field of 28th Feb., Vol. LXXVII. p. 289, and in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XV. p. 105, says: '...one is reported to have been seen in Dorsetshire in May, 1888. In the Proceedings of the Dorset Nat. Hist. and Antiquarian Field Club, Vol. XI. (1890), it is stated (p. xviii) that "a keeper in the employ of Sir Richard Glyn first saw the bird on May 17th, 1888; it could run (he said) at a fast rate, but did not seem to fly with ease. The last time he saw it was on Compton Down; it then flew to Melbury Down, beyond Whitworth's Bushes. It did not fly high, nor more than a mile from where it rose. The observer never approached nearer than 150 yards".

The President (Mr. J. C. Mansel-Pleydell) added that this description coincided with Chaffin's account of the flight of Bustards which he witnessed on the Downs near Woodgates Hill, near Salisbury, 100 years ago. The reference is obviously to Chaffin's History of Cranbourne Chase, (1818, pp. 90, 91).'

Admitted by F. L. Blathwayt (1934) in the Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society, Vol. LV. p. 207, under 'A Revised List of the Birds of Dorset'.

47). 1890 Essex Bridge Wick Farm, Southminster, Dengie, female, killed, 9th December.

(W. Sewell, Field 20th Dec., 1890: 911; J. E. Harting, Zoologist 1891: 103-106; Eds., Ibis 1891: 299; W. Glegg, Essex Naturalist 4: 214; Glegg, 1929; Hudson & Pyman, 1968; Cox, 1984).

History William Sewell of Tillingham Hall, Essex (1890) in The Field of 20th Dec., Vol. LXXVI. p. 911, says: 'On Dec. 9, on Bridge Wick Farm, Dengie, Southminster, Essex, William Dines, bailiff to Mr. Robert Page, shot a Great Bustard. It weighed 8 lb. 5 oz., and was in fine condition. It is now with Messrs. Ashmead and Co. (35, Bishopsgate Street, Without) for preservation. Is it not a rare occurrence for this bird to be shot in England?'

J. E. Harting, Editor (1891) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XV. p. 104, says: 'The recent visitation of Bustards was heralded in The Field of the 20th December last, by an announcement from William Sewell, of Tillingham Hall, Essex, that a Great Bustard had been shot on Dec. 9th, by the bailiff to Mr. Robert Page, on Bridgewick Farm, Dengie, Southminster, and had been forwarded for preservation to Mr. Ashmead, of Bishopsgate Street. It proved to be a hen bird, weighing 8 lbs. 5 oz., and was in good condition.'

In an Editorial (1891) in The Ibis, Vol. III. 6th series, p. 299, it says: 'In The Field for Feb. 28th, Mr. Harting gives a record of the occurrence of seven specimens of the Great Bustard during the present winter in various parts of the South of England. Curiously enough, all these were of the female sex.'

Glegg (1929: 270-271) says: 'A female was shot on 9th December 1890, on Bridge Wick Farm, Dengie, by Mr. W. Dines. This bird was preserved by Ashmead, and passed into the collection of Mr. R. Page, of Marsh House, Tillingham, and was purchased by Mr. Hawkins, for £9, 10s., at the Tillingham Hall sale, on 27th September 1911.'

48). 1890 Carmarthenshire Glan-rhwdw, near Llanelli, female, shot, late December.

(J. E. Harting, Field 28th Feb., 1891: 289; J. E. Harting, Zoologist 1891: 103-106; Eds., Ibis 1891: 299; Barker, 1905; Ingram & Morrey Salmon, 1954; Lovegrove, Williams & Williams, 1994).

History J. E. Harting, Editor (1891 in The Field of 28th Feb., Vol. LXXVII. p. 289, and in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XV. p. 104, says: '"During Christmas week", as I am informed by Dr. John Lowe, a Great Bustard was shot at Llanrhwdw, near Llanelly, in Carmarthernshire, and was taken to Mr. Hugh Nevill, of Llanelly, for identification. He reported it to be a female bird, weighing between 8 and 9 lbs., and in very fair condition. It was forwarded for preservation to a birdstuffer in Carmarthen.

Mr. Nevill writes that it was found close to a river, where he believes he saw it himself one evening about a fortnight previously, when returning home in the dusk; but the light failing, he was unable to make certain of the species, which attracted his attention by its conspicuous size.'

In an Editorial (1891) in The Ibis, Vol. XXXIII. p. 299, it says: 'In The Field, for Feb. 28th, Mr. Harting gives a record of the occurrence of seven specimens of the Great Bustard during the present winter in various parts of the South of England. Curiously enough, all these were of the female sex.'

Barker (1905: 16) says: 'Note by Mr. Browne: "Bustard - one killed at Alltycadno in January, 1891". Four or five shot in the last three or four years, some near Ferryside (J).'

Accepted nationally for Wales (Lovegrove, Williams & Williams 1994).

49). 1891 Hampshire Romsey, female, shot, 2nd January.

(J. Bourne, Field 10th Jan., 1891: 59; J. E. Harting, Zoologist 1891: 103-106; Eds., Ibis 1891: 299; Kelsall & Munn, 1905).

History J. Bourne of Ampfield House, Romsey (1891) in The Field of 10th Jan., Vol. LXXVII. p. 59, says: 'On taking up our positions on the edge of a kohl rabi field on Jan. 2 for driven partridges, we were surprised to see what appeared to be a wild goose rise from the centre of it, and fly in the opposite direction very slowly. About half an hour later the same bird came over my stand, about twenty yards up, affording an easy shot, and was bagged. I found it to be a female Bustard. It weighed 10 lb., measuring 5 ft. from tip to tip of wing, and was in grand plumage.'

J. E. Harting, Editor (1891) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XV. p. 104, says: 'On January 2nd, Mr. J. Bourne, of Ampfield House, Romsey, Hants., was out Partridge-shooting, and, on taking up his position for a Partridge "drive", on the edge of a kohl-rabi field, was surprised to see what appeared to be a Wild Goose rise from the centre of the field, and fly in the opposite direction very slowly. About half an hour later the same bird came over his head about twenty yards high, affording an easy shot, and was bagged. He found it to be a hen Bustard, which was subsequently ascertained to weigh 10 lbs., and measured 5 feet from tip to tip of wing. He announced these facts in The Field of Jan. 10th last.'

Kelsall & Munn (1905: 278) say: 'Mr. Johnson, proprietor of the "Hampshire Chronicle", kindly sent us the following record of a straggler of this species from the continent: - Mr. J. Bourne, of Ampfield House, Romsey, wrote to The Field, on January 10th, 1891, - "On taking up our positions on the edge of a Kohl rabi field on January 2nd, for driven Partridges, we were surprised to see what appeared to be a wild goose rise from the centre of it, and fly in the opposite direction very slowly. About half an hour later the same bird came over my stand, about twenty yards up, affording an easy shot, and was bagged. I found it to be a female Bustard. It weighed 10 lb., measuring 5 feet from tip to tip of wing, and was in good plumage.'

In an Editorial (1891) in The Ibis, Vol. III. 6th series, p. 299, it says: 'In The Field for Feb. 28th, Mr. Harting gives a record of the occurrence of seven specimens of the Great Bustard during the present winter in various parts of the South of England. Curiously enough, all these were of the female sex.'

50). 1891 Sussex Pett Level, female, shot, 6th January.

("H.V.C." Field 7th Feb., 1891: 200; J. E. Harting, Field 28th Feb., 1891: 289; J. E. Harting, Zoologist 1891: 103-106; Eds., Ibis 1891: 299; Borrer, 1891; Walpole-Bond, 1938; Shrubb, 1979).

History "H.V.C." of Rye (1891) in The Field of 7th Feb., Vol. LXXVII. p. 200, says: 'The bustard mentioned in my letter of Jan. 24 as having been shot at Westfield, was, as I have since learnt, shot at Pett Level, about three miles nearer the sea. Mr. Bristow, the taxidermist of St. Leonards, to whom the bird was sent for preservation, informs me that it was killed by Charles Cooke, and sold by him to Mr. Vidler, of Havelock Road, Hastings, and that it was a hen bird, weighing 7 lb. 10 oz. It was in plump condition, and the crop contained only a little grass.'

J. E. Harting, Editor (1891 in The Field of 28th Feb., Vol. LXXVII. p. 289, adds: '...who sold it to Mr. E. Vidler, of Havelock Road...'

J. E. Harting, Editor (1891) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XV. p. 104, says: 'We next hear from several correspondents of a Great Bustard in Sussex, variously reported to have been shot in the marshes "near Rye", "near Winchelsea", and at "Westfield" (Field, Jan. 24th, 1891). It appears on further enquiry that the actual locality was Pett Level, between Winchelsea and Fairlight (Field, Feb 7, 1891). It was shot on Jan. 6th by Charles Cooke, who sold it to Mr. E. Vidler, of Havelock Road, Hastings, and this also proved to be a female bird, weighing 7 lbs. 10 oz. It was in plump condition, the crop containing dry grass.'

In an Editorial (1891) in The Ibis, Vol. XXXIII. p. 299, it says: 'In The Field for Feb. 28th, Mr. Harting gives a record of the occurrence of seven specimens of the Great Bustard during the present winter in various parts of the South of England. Curiously enough, all these were of the female sex.'

Accepted locally under 'Appendix' (Borrer 1891: 373) and by Walpole-Bond (1938 (3): 319) who says: 'But the next record is eminently good, and bears on a bird shot in Pett Level on January 6th, 1891 (Zool., 1891, pp. 104-05). This specimen was differently reported as having been killed at Westfield and Winchelsea - as a matter of fact the latter place practically adjoins Pett, though Westfield is a good six miles there from.'

Comment There were seven female Great Bustards killed in the winter of 1890-91 in England and although this record has the stigma of George Bristow attached to it is more than likely that it was a genuine record. Bristow was at the heart of the "Hastings Rarities" fraud.

51). 1891 Norfolk Stiffkey, female, picked up dead, 19th January.

("H.H.B.L." Field 24th Jan., 1891: 120; T. Southwell, Field 31st Jan., 1891: 163; H. W. Fielden, Field 31st Jan., 1891: 163; T. J. Mann, Field 31st Jan., 1891: 163; H. H. B. Law, Field 31st Jan., 1891: 163; J. E. Harting, Zoologist 1891: 103-106; T. Southwell, Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society 5: 202).

History "H.H.B.L." (1891) in The Field of 24th Jan., Vol. LXXVII. p. 120, under 'Little Bustard in Norfolk', says: 'I think that I am right in stating that a Little Bustard was caught in a field at Stiffkey, in Norfolk. This bird, to the best of my belief, has not appeared in Norfolk for a considerable period, and has now become very scarce.' [Twenty years having elapsed since the publication of the late Mr. Stevenson's Birds of Norfolk, it is not possible to ascertain from this book the latest reported occurrence of the Little Bustard in this county, but we have no doubt that some of our Norfolk correspondents could give information on the point. On the other hand, it is possible that the bird above referred to may be a Great Bustard, of which several have been reported lately. Further particulars would be of interest. - Ed.]

Thomas Southwell of Norwich (1891) in The Field of 31st Jan., Vol. LXXVII. p. 163, dated 26th January, says: 'In reply to your correspondent "H.H.B.L." in The Field of 24th inst., I may inform him that Mr. Stevenson, in the Birds of Norfolk, enumerates eleven instances of the occurrence of the Little Bustard in Norfolk up to the year 1861. Another example, which was unknown to Mr. S. at that time, was killed at Mundesley in November, 1820.

Since 1861 I find the following records in my note-book: 1874, Dec. 2, one at Tilney St. Lawrence; 1878, Feb. 14, one at Potter Heigham; 1878, Sept. 12, one at Caister, by Yarmouth; 1887, Jan. 3, one near Wormegay, some five miles from King's Lynn; 1889, Aug. 10, one at Waxham, near Yarmouth, making seventeen examples - quite sufficient to substantiate Mr. Stevenson's conclusion that in Norfolk this bird may be safely classed "amongst those rare migrants which can be confidently looked for from time to time, and, from the regularity of its appearance during certain months of the year only, may be reckoned as an occasional winter visitant", the August individual being altogether exceptional. I should mention that in drawing up the above list I have not searched further than my own note-book; it may therefore be imperfect, but it is quite sufficient for the present purpose. It is important, however, to add that the bird reported in The Field of last week as the Little Bustard turns out to be a Great Bustard, as suggested in your editorial note, and it is a pity that your anonymous correspondent did not make sure of the fact before writing, and give further particulars.'

H. W. Fielden of Wells, Norfolk (1891) in The Field of 31st Jan., Vol. LXXVII. p. 163, says: 'Mr. S. J. Bell, of Stiffkey, informs me that on Jan. 19 a female Great Bustard was picked up dead in the "drift" or roadway leading from Stiffkey Windmill to the marshes, about half a mile above high tide mark, and brought to him. The bird was in good condition, and weighed 8 lb. This specimen has passed into the collection of Mr. T. J. Mann, of Hyde Hall, Sawbridgeworth, Herts.'

T. J. Mann of Hyde Hall, Sawbridgeworth (1891) in The Field of 31st Jan., Vol. LXXVII. p. 163, says: 'Your correspondent of last week was in error in supposing the Little Bustard to have been captured at Stiffney [sic], North Norfolk. It was a female specimen of the Great Bustard (Otis tarda), which was picked up dead about one and a half miles from the sea, and had evidently been shot. It was sent to me by Mr. Bell, but was too "advanced" for preservation. I have only been able to save the wings and sternum. It weighed 8½ lbs., its wing measurement being 59 in.; it was in very fair plumage.'

H. H. B. Law of Burgh Hall, Melton Constable (1891) in The Field of 31st Jan., Vol. LXXVII. p. 163, says: 'I have since discovered that I was wrong in stating in last week's Field that a Little Bustard had been captured in a field at Stiffkey, in Norfolk, as, after corresponding with a gentleman who resides at Stiffkey, I find that it was a Great Bustard and not a Little Bustard. It was shot at by a Stiffkey man, whose dog afterwards found it in a field close by, with both its legs broken. Not having seen a bird like it before, he naturally concluded it was something uncommon, and so took it into the village, where he finally sold it to my correspondent for 5s., who afterwards gave it away to a friend. It was in good plumage, and weighed 8 lb. It seems a great pity that such a noble bird, now so rare in England, should not be allowed to remain unmolested.'

J. E. Harting, Editor (1891) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XV. pp. 104-105, says: 'In The Field of Jan. 24th, Mr. H. B. B. Law, of Burgh Hall, Melton Constable, Norfolk, reported that a Little Bustard was caught in a field at Stiffkey; but in the following issue of that journal (Jan. 31st) several correspondents - viz. Mr. Southwell of Norwich, Col. Fielden, Mr. T. J. Mann, and Mr. Law himself - wrote to correct this statement, and gave further particulars. From their letters it appears that on Jan. 19th a female Great Bustard was picked up dead in the "drift" or roadway leading from Stiffkey windmill to the marshes. It had been shot at by a Stiffkey man, whose dog afterwards found it, and it was then purchased by Mr. S. J. Bell, of Stiffkey, who presented it to Mr. T. J. Mann, of Hyde Hall, Sawbridgeworth. By the time it reached its destination, however, it had been dead too long for preservation, and decomposition having set in, Mr. Mann was only able to save the wings and sternum. It then weighed from 8 to 8½ lbs., the wing measurement being 59 inches.'

Thomas Southwell (1889-94) in the Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society, Vol. V. p. 202, read 24th February, 1891, says: 'The Norfolk bird was found on the 19th of January, 1891, dead, in a road leading from Stiffkey Windmill to the salt marshes, and about a mile and a half from the sea. It had been previously shot at, and evidently died of its wounds. It was taken to Mr. Bell, and by him forwarded to Mr. T. J. Mann, of Hyde Hall, Sawbridgeworth, who unfortunately found it in too advanced a state for preservation, and only the wings and sternum were saved. It proved to be a female, weighing eight and half pounds, in very fair plumage, and measured fifty-nine inches from the carpal point to the end of the longest quill feather.'

52). 1891 Wiltshire Near Chippenham, female, shot, 4th February.

(J. E. Harting, Field 28th Feb., 1891: 289; J. E. Harting, Zoologist 1891: 103-106; G. B. Hony, British Birds 7: 290; Buxton, 1981).

History J. E. Harting, Editor (1891) in The Field of 28th Feb., Vol. LXXVII. p. 289, and in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XV. p. 105, says: 'On Feb. 4th, as I am informed by the Rev. A. C. Smith, of Old Park, Devizes, a Bustard was shot near Chippenham, Wilts., by a Mr. Wood, and was sent by him for preservation to Foot the birdstuffer, at Bath. It measured 5 feet from tip to tip of wing, and weighed 9 lbs.'

G. Bathurst Hony (1914) in British Birds, Vol. VII. p. 283, under 'Additional Species', says: 'Since the appearance of the Rev. A. C. Smith's Birds of Wiltshire in 1887 many new county records have naturally occurred. I now propose to give the more interesting of those I have collected, some of which have been published before, but many of which are now published for the first time. Perhaps the presentation of these in a collected form may cause other records to be brought to light. Smith records the occurrence of 235 species, but he was too wont - to use his own words - to "give the prisoner the benefit of the doubt"....A female was shot on Feb. 4th, 1891, near Chippenham (Field, Feb. 28th, 1891).'

53). 1891 Cambridgeshire/Suffolk Mildenhall Fen, female, shot, 5th February.

(J. E. Harting, Field 28th Feb., 1891: 289; J. E. Harting, Zoologist 1891: 103-106; T. Southwell, Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society 5: 202; J. G. Tuck, Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society 5: 209-211; Ticehurst, 1932; J. S. Clark, Cambridgeshire Bird Report 1998: 47).

History J. E. Harting, Editor (1891) in The Field of 28th Feb., Vol. LXXVII. p. 289, and in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XV. p. 105, says: 'The latest Bustard of which I have received any information was killed in Mildenhall Fen, Suffolk, on the 5th February last. The fenman who shot it had no idea what it was, and disposed of it to Mr. Howlett, the birdstuffer of Newmarket, who, in a letter to The Standard of Feb. 7th, announced the occurrence, and stated that the bird was a female, weighing about 18 lbs.

On the 9th Feb., the Rev. Julian G. Tuck, of Tostock Rectory, Bury St. Edmunds, having just seen it, wrote to me to inform of the fact, confirming the statement that it was a hen bird, although from the unusual weight (nearly twice that of any of the other female Bustards recently obtained) I had surmised that it was perhaps a young male without the well-developed vibrisse which characterise the adult cock bird, and might consequently have been mistaken for a female. Mr. Howlett subsequently informed me, in reply to my enquiry, that the weight was 13 lbs., and had been misprinted 18 lbs.

We thus have notice of seven Bustards procured between Dec. 9th and Feb. 5th, and it is remarkable that every one of them has proved to be of the female sex.'

Thomas Southwell (1889-94) in the Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society, Vol. V. p. 202, read 24th February, 1891, says: 'A small migratory flock of these birds appear to have visited England this winter, of which one was killed in Wales, one in Essex, one in Hampshire, one in Wiltshire, one in Sussex, one in Norfolk, and another in Suffolk.

Of the latter, which was procured in Mildenhall Fen, some four miles from the Norfolk border, the Rev. Julian Tuck has given us full particulars which will be found at p. 209....It is worthy of note, that so far as I have been able to learn, all the examples met with in the past winter - seven in number - have been females.'

Accepted locally for Suffolk (Ticehurst 1932: 326).

J. S. Clark (1998) in the Cambridgeshire Bird Report, Vol. LXXII. p. 47, says: 'A female shot on 5th Feb. 1891, on Mildenhall Fen was just inside the Cambs. boundary. It had previously been accepted as a Suffolk record.'

Piotrowski (2003) still accepts it on the Suffolk list.

Comment Lack (1934) called Howlett notoriously unreliable but it would seem this is a genuine record because of the nationwide influx and the fact that the Rev. Julian Tuck saw it.

54). 1892 Orkney Housebay, Stronsay, female, 6th to 8th February, now at National Museums of Scotland (NMSZ 1897.16).

(T. S. Peace, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1892: 138; "R.S.S." Field 12th Mar., 1892: 356; R. H. Traquair, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1897: 225; Eds., British Birds 19: 55; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953).

History T. S. Peace of Kirkwall (1892) in the Annals of Scottish Natural History, Vol. I. p. 138, says: 'On the 8th February last, Mr. D. H. Learmonth, farmer, Honsebay [sic], Stronsay, a very enthusiastic sportsman, was informed by some of his men that a strange bird, a sort of goose they thought, had been feeding about the centre of one of his fields, since the preceding Saturday (6th).

He took his gun, and going to the field mentioned, a thirty-eight acre turnip field, observed it immediately, there was no chance of stalking it, so he approached in a contracting circuit, and when about seventy yards distant it got up, and he fired. It fell, just one pellet having struck it on the head. it was a fine female, and though in poor condition I am informed that it weighed exactly 9½ lbs.

The weather had been wet and stormy for some time. The bird was quite alone. it seems to have frequented the same field all the time, as it was not observed elsewhere.

It is noteworthy that a bustard obtained on Stronsay in 1876, was shot by Mr. Wm. Stevenson on the contiguous farm of Holland.'

"R.S.S." (1892) in The Field of 12th Mar., Vol. LXXIX. p. 356, says: 'A female example of this fine species was shot in Orkney in the end of February, and has been set up by Mr. Small, of George Street, Edinburgh. It was quite fresh, and was seen in the flesh by Messrs. William Evans and W. Eagle Clarke, of the Museum of Science and Art. Only the one bird was seen in Orkney, and it is to be exhibited at a forthcoming meeting of the Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh.'

R. H. Traquair (1897) in the Annals of Scottish Natural History, Vol. VI. p. 225, on additions to the Edinburgh Science and Art Museum, says: 'The specimen recorded in the Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., 1892, p. 138, as having been shot at Housebay, Stronsay, Orkney, has now been acquired by the Museum.'

Gladstone (1924) says: '...this is now [1924] in the Royal Scottish Museum.'

In an Editorial (1925) in British Birds, Vol. XIX. p. 55, under 'The Great Bustard in Scotland', they say: 'The only records of the occurrence of stragglers during the last fifty years are given as follows: February 8th, 1892, female, Stronsay (shot on adjoining farm to that for 1876 and now in Royal Scottish Museum).'

Comment The locality is Housebay (OS map). The specimen was purchased from W. Small & Son for £7.10.0 (per Bob McGowan, NMS).

55). 1894 Norfolk Costessey, female, killed, 1st February.

(T. E. Gunn, Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society 5: 656; J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1895: 95-96).

History J. H. Gurney, jun., of Norwich (1895) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XIX. pp. 95-96, says: 'February 1st. A female Great Bustard was shot at Costessey, near Norwich, by a man named Paul, of which a full account has been given by Mr. T. E. Gunn (Trans. Norfolk Nat. Soc., V. p. 656).

Its gizzard contained an angular flake of flint (which must have been an awkward morsel to swallow) and three small pieces of pottery, one of a blue colour, recalling to mind New Zealand Moa stones (see the coloured figure in The Ornithological Miscellany, Vol. III. p. 240), which were sometimes of a bluish hue.

The last occurrence of the Great Bustard was on Jan. 19th, 1891, when six others were killed in different parts of England, and, like this one, were all females.'

Comment Purchased by Sir Vauncey Crewe, but was not included in the sale of his collection in 1925 and 1926.

56). 1895 Ayrshire Irvine, female, washed up, 20th June.

(J. Pringle, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1895: 253; Eds., British Birds 19: 55; Paton & Pike, 1929; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953).

History John Pringle of Irvine (1895) in the Annals of Scottish Natural History, Vol. IV. p. 253, says: 'On the 20th of June this year, while walking on the beach at Irvine, I observed a large bird floating in the water, which I managed to secure, but was quite puzzled with it, having never seen one like it before, nor was I able to ascertain its name from any one in the district to whom I showed it.

Finally, I submitted it to Mr. J. A. Harvie-Brown, who pronounced it to be a specimen of the Great Bustard (Otis tarda) – a bird that has been extinct as an indigenous species in S.E. Scotland for over three centuries, and now only an extremely rare casual visitor from the Continent of Europe, and one which it is believed has never before been recorded for Ayrshire.

The bird was considerably decomposed when found, and has evidently been in the water for some days. From its comparatively small size it was evidently a female.'

In an Editorial (1925) in British Birds, Vol. XIX. p. 55, under 'The Great Bustard in Scotland', they say: 'The only records of the occurrence of stragglers during the last fifty years are given as follows: June 20th, 1895, female, washed up on Ayrshire coast at Irvine.'

Comment Unfortunately, no mention is made of the state of decay. This winter visitor should have been much further south and east on the continent during spring and summer.

57). 1905 Devon Rousdon, shot, 30th January.

(D. Campbell, Devon Birds 2008: 17-25; Tyler, 2010).

History D. Campbell (2008) in Devon Birds, Vol. LXI. p. 18, says: '...A more recent account of the stuffed birds [at Rousden] (Olliver 1982) mentions that Case E differs from the 1888 Catalogue, apparently to accomodate an extra bird, a Great Bustard mentioned in correspondence with the British Musuem (Natural History) as having been shot on the Rousden Estate on 30th Jan 1905.' It was admitted locally in a listing of acceptable records (Tyler 2010).

58). 1910 Hampshire Jamaica Farm, St Mary Bourne, adult female, shot, 12th January.

(P. W. Munn, British Birds 4: 190).

History Philip W. Munn (1910) in British Birds, Vol. IV. p. 190, says: 'A Great Bustard (Otis tarda) was shot on January 12th, 1910, in a turnip-field on Jamaica Farm, St. Mary Bourne, Hants. The bird is an adult female and in good condition; the state of its plumage does not show any signs of its having been in captivity, nor was it at all tame, and I cannot hear that any have been kept in captivity in the neighbourhood. The weather in England at the time it was obtained was very unsettled and changeable, with heavy gales from the S.W., W. and N.W. and snow, hail and rain; and possibly severe weather may have driven it from its usual haunts. It is, of course, difficult to say with any certainty whether it is an escaped bird or not, but perhaps this note may elicit some information on the subject.'

59). 1924 Orkney Newark Farm, Sanday, immature female, caught, 4th January and held until 20th February, when it died, now at National Museums of Scotland (NMSZ 1929.43).

(H. S. Gladstone, Scottish Naturalist 44: 89; Eds., British Birds 18: 175; E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul, Scottish Naturalist 45: 76; Eds., British Birds 19: 55; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Thom, 1986; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007).

History Hugh S. Gladstone (1924) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XLIV. p. 89, says: 'On the night of 4th January, 1924, a Great Bustard was captured by a rabbit-catcher on Newark Farm. The bird was put in a large box for a few days and became quite tame. It was given bread, raisins, turnips, cabbage, and water, and fed out of the rabbit-catcher's hand. When he was cleaning his rabbits the bird used to come up to him and partake of the entrails. It appeared to be flourishing, but died unexpectedly on 20th February, 1924.'

In an Editorial (1924) in British Birds, Vol. XVIII. p. 175, they say: 'Mr. Hugh S. Gladstone records (Scot. Nat., 1924, p. 89) that a Great Bustard (Otis tarda) was captured on Newark Farm (Sanday) on the night of January 4th, 1924. The bird was kept alive until February 20th, when it died. We understand that the skin has been preserved.'

Admitted by E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul (1925) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XLV. p. 76. In an Editorial (1925) in British Birds, Vol. XIX. p. 55, under 'The Great Bustard in Scotland', they say: 'The only records of the occurrence of stragglers during the last fifty years are given as follows: January 4th, 1924, immature female captured Sanday, Orkneys (vide antea, p. 175), and now in Royal Scottish Museum.'

60). 1925 Suffolk Cockfield, four, seen, one shot, c. 10th December.

(Ticehurst, 1932; Piotrowski, 2003).

History Ticehurst (1932: 326) says: 'One out of four seen was shot by Mr. A. Golding at Cockfield some time before 25th December 1925.' While, Piotrowski (2003: 138) says: 'One was shot by a shooting party as they flew over Cockfield.'

64). 1925 Yorkshire Islebeck Grange Farm, near Thirsk, adult female, seen, about 25th December to 1st March 1926, when picked up dead.

(R. Fortune, British Birds 20: 27; R. Fortune, Naturalist 51: 171; Mather, 1986).

History Riley Fortune (1926) in the new series of The Naturalist, Vol. LI. p. 171, says: 'A Great Bustard was picked up dead on Islebeck Grange Farm, near Thirsk, on March 1st. It had haunted the neighbourhood since Christmas. The bird was taken to Mr. Robert Lee for preservation, and is stated to be a female. It is probable that it died of starvation, as it only weighed 6 lb. 14 oz. It is in good plumage, and there was no sign of any injury, except of old standing. The left leg appears to have been fractured at some time, but has knitted together again; it is, however, thicker than the other one. The liver was diseased, being much enlarged, very hard and covered with white spots.'

R. Fortune (1926) in British Birds, Vol. XX. p. 27, says: 'Great Bustard (Otis tarda), as has already been reported in the Press, was picked up dead on Islebeck Grange Farm, near Thirsk, on March 1st, 1926. The bird had been noticed in the neighbourhood since about Christmas, and it is just possible that it had been noticed previously at Flamborough, where a so-called Eagle had been reported.

The bird had not been shot, and it must have died of starvation as it weighed only 6 lbs. 14 ozs. and was an adult, sexed a female by Mr. R. Lee, who stuffed it. At some time or other one of its legs had been broken, but this was an old injury perfectly healed. The liver was much enlarged, very hard and covered with white spots.'

[The above occurrence and that already recorded from co. Cork (antea, p. 236) are interesting in view of the fact that a number of Great Bustards appeared in France in December, 1925. The following are recorded in the Revue Francaise d'Ornitholigie, February, 1926, pp. 92-5, viz.: - December 8th Lorraine, December 9th three in Isere, about the same time occurrences in Saone et Loire, Cote-d'Or and Marne, and on December 24th in Oise.

Others are mentioned in the April issue of the same journal. These records indicate a westward movement of the bird in unusual numbers. - Eds.]

65). 1936 Shetland Near Hillswick, Mainland, female, shot, 19th May, now at Anderson High School, Lerwick.

(G. Waterston, Scottish Naturalist 57: 31; Eds., British Birds 31: 124; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Thom, 1986; Pennington et al., 2004).

History George Waterston (1937) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LVII. p. 31, under 'Bird Notes from Shetland', says: 'Great Bustard. - Mr. Samuel Bruce kindly showed me a female specimen of this species which had been obtained at Hillswick on 19th May 1936.'

In an Editorial (1937) in British Birds, Vol. XXXI. pp. 123-124, they say: 'Mr. George Waterston contributes to the Scottish Naturalist (1937, pp. 25-31) an important paper on the status of a number of scarce birds (chiefly migrants) in Shetland. The information he has obtained from Mr. Tom Bruce, jun., and from an examination of Mr. Samuel Bruce's collection, though sometimes rather lacking in detail, shows that certain rare migrants, hitherto unrecorded from Shetland, but known to occur at Fair Isle, do visit Shetland, while others of which very few have been recorded for Shetland occur almost annually. Of those not previously recorded are the following: a Great Bustard, May, 1936.'

Witherby et al. (1940-52) say: 'Apart from ancient breeding records has occurred in Scotland, Moray (1803), Ayr (June 1895), Orkney (March 1876, Feb. 1892, Jan. 1924), Shetland (May 1936).'

NOT PROVEN

0). 1803 Moray & Nairn Near Oakenhead, Moray, shot, undated.

(Fleming, 1828; G. Gordon, Zoologist 1844: 512; Yarrell, 1871-85; Harvie-Brown & Buckley, 1896; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Cook, 1992).

[Eds., Scottish Birds 6: 171-173; I. Andrews & K. A. Naylor, Scottish Birds 23: 76-77; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007].

History Fleming (1828: 115) says: 'One was shot in 1803, in Murrayshire by William Young Esq. of Boroughhead.'

Rev. G. Gordon (1844) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. II. p. 512, under 'A Fauna of Moray', says: 'One was shot near Oakenhead, in 1803, by the late Wm. Young, Esq., of Burghead.'

Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 204, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'In Scotland, the Great Bustard had long been extinct, and it was probably a mere straggler from the Continent which was shot in Morayshire, in 1803, where another was also obtained, as recorded by the late Rev. Mr. Gordon in his Fauna of Moray.'

Harvie-Brown & Buckley (1896 (2): 170) say 'One was shot in Murrayshire by William Young, Esq., of Borough Head (Fleming's British Animals).'

In an Editorial (1970-71) in Scottish Birds, Vol. VI. p. 173, it was published that of the five accepted records listed for Scotland, this was not one of them, although Cook (1992) still accepts it for Moray & Nairn.

Not accepted nationally for Scotland (Forrester & Andrews et al. 2007).

0). 1826 Shropshire Longmynd, pair, seen, about July.

(Forrest, 1899).

[Forrest, 1899].

History Forrest (1899: 157-158) says: 'The occurrence of this fine bird in Shropshire is somewhat doubtful, but is recorded here on the evidence contained in a letter written by the late Rev. R. W. Gleadowe, of Frodesley, to Mr. Beckwith, in May, 1879. It stated that his father-in-law, Mr. T. L. Gleadowe, saw a pair of Great Bustards on the Longmynd. "He was riding from Church Stretton to Ratlinghope, about July in 1826, and saw two birds, apparently a pair, among the fern and ling about half way between the two places mentioned. They only remained a moment or two and then took to flight. His description is that they were like a turkey hen in shape, of a chestnut colour above and ashy grey beneath, but the neck was more of the same thickness throughout than a turkey's. He used to be very fond of natural history and, to judge by other instances, his observation and memory are careful and accurate, so that I see no reason, except the rarity of the birds, to doubt his account".'

Comment Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. Not acceptable.

0). c. 1830 Yorkshire Reighton, shot, undated.

(Morris, 1851-57; Clarke & Roebuck, 1881).

History Morris (1856) vol. v. p. 2, says: 'One was shot near Reighton.'

Clarke & Roebuck (1881) p. 65, say: 'The precise date of extinction is uncertain, but there is reason to believe that the last bird was killed at Reighton, near Hunmanby, about the year 1830.'

Comment Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. Not acceptable.

0). Pre 1837 Ayrshire Maybole, undated.

(New Statistical Account 5 (1845); Scottish Naturalist 44: 180; McWilliam, 1936).

[Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007].

History McWilliam (1936) says: 'In an account of Maybole, Ayrshire, written in 1837, the Great Bustard is included, on the authority of Dr. McTyer of Redbrae, in a list of the rarer animals of the period (New Stat. Acct., Vol. V. 1845).'

Not accepted nationally for Scotland (Forrester & Andrews et al. 2007).

Comment Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. Not acceptable.

0). 1837 Lincolnshire North-west Lindsay area, seen, undated.

(Lorand & Atkin, 1989).

[Lorand & Atkin, 1989].

History Lorand & Atkin (1989) state that this record was "said to have been seen in this area".

0). c. 1840 Bedfordshire Wyboston, shot,undated.

(Steele-Elliott, 1901).

[P. Trodd, Bedfordshire Bird Report 1986: 51].

History Steele-Elliott (1901: 143) says: 'In conversation with Mr. P. Addington, he gave me particulars of one that was killed on his farm at Wyboston, about 1840, by Mr. Martin George; at whose sale it was purchased for £2 and passed into the possession of Dr. Rix, of St. Neot's. At his death it was again sold, but unfortunately I am unable to trace its present destination to enable me to give any additional particulars.'

Not accepted locally (P. Trodd, Bedfordshire Bird Report 1986: 51).

0). Pre 1844 Moray & Nairn Inchbroom, obtained, undated.

(G. Gordon, Zoologist 1844: 512; Cook, 1992).

[Eds., Scottish Birds 6: 171-173].

History G. Gordon (1844) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. II. p. 512, under A Fauna of Moray, says: 'Another was taken a few years ago at Inchbroom [Morayshire], by Chas. Barclay, Esq.'

Comment In an editorial (Scottish Birds 6: 173) this was not one of the five accepted records listed for Scotland, although Cook (1992) still accepted it for Moray & Nairn. Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. Not acceptable.

0). c. 1850 Suffolk Norton, shot, undated.

(Babington, 1884-86).

[Ticehurst, 1932].

History Babington (1884-86: 112-113) says: 'One was shot at Norton about 1850 by Mr. Joseph Smith, of the Dog Inn, and was sent as a present to the Queen (Hawkins MS.).'

Not accepted locally (Ticehurst 1932; Piotrowski 2003).

Comment Third-hand report. Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. Not accepted locally for Suffolk (Piotrowski 2003). Is it in Norfolk?

). c. 1860 Lincolnshire Candlesby, pair, seen, undated.

(Eds., Field 7th Jan., 1871: 6; Cordeaux, 1872; Lorand & Atkin, 1989).

[Lorand & Atkin, 1989].

History In an Editorial (1871) in The Field of 7th Jan., Vol. XXXVII. p. 6, in a listing of previous occurrences, he says: 'A notice by a correspondent in The Field (April 14th, 1866, p. 317), of one seen, at that time, at Halton Holegate, in Lincolnshire; and a pair at Candlesby, in the same neighbourhood, a few years before.'

Cordeaux (1872: 85) says: '...a pair at Candlesby, in the same neighbourhood [Spilsby], a few years before [1866].'

Lorand & Atkin (1989) state that this pair was supposed to have been seen at Candlesby.

Comment Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. Not acceptable.

0). 1861 Highland Strath Skinsdale, Blackwater River, Sutherland, seen, 13th August.

("Devoniensis" Field 22nd Feb., 1862: 159 Harting, 1901).

[Eds., British Birds 19: 55; R. H. Dennis, Scottish Birds 6: 171-173].

History "Devoniensis" (1862) in The Field of 22nd Feb., Vol. XIX. p. 159, says: 'Bewick, in his History of British Birds, 6th edit. Vol. I. p. 357, talking of bustards, says: "They were formerly met with in Scotland, but are now extinct there". On the 13th August, 1861, I flushed a specimen of the Great Bustard (a male) up Strath Skinsdale, on the banks of the Blackwater River, in Sutherlandshire. Are they often seen so far north as this?'

Harting (1901: 160-161) says: '...another was seen in Strath Skinsdale, [Blackwater River], Sutherlandshire, in August 1861. A reference to The Field of 22nd February 1862 (p. 159) gives the date as 13th August 1861.'

In an Editorial (1925) in British Birds, Vol. XIX. p. 55, they state that the first record for Scotland is 1876.

Comment Anonymous records were unacceptable to ornithologists. Summer would be a strange date for this winter visitor. Not acceptable.

0). 1865 Meirionnydd Dolau-gwyn Mountain, near Tywyn, shot, undated.

(Forrest, 1907).

[Lovegrove, Williams & Williams, 1994].

History Forrest (1907) says: 'Mr. E. W. Kirkby informs me that his father shot a Great Bustard in 1865 on Dolangwyn Mountain, near Towyn. It was, unfortunately, not preserved.'

Not accepted nationally for Wales (Lovegrove, Williams & Williams 1994).

0). 1865 Dorset No locality, pair, shot, undated.

(F. L. Blathwayt, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society 61: 166).

[F. L. Blathwayt, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society 61: 166].

History F. L. Blathwayt (1940) in the Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society, Vol. LXI. p. 166, under 'A Revised List of the Birds of Dorset', says: 'A pair said to have been shot in Dorset, 1865, are in the Russell-Coates Museum, Bournemouth.'

Comment The author using the words "said to have been" implies no faith in the record. Not acceptable.

0). 1866 Lincolnshire Halton Holgate, near Spilsby, seen, 10th April.

("W.F.R." Field 14th Apr., 1866: 317; Stevenson, 1866; Eds., Field 7th Jan., 1871: 6; Cordeaux, 1872; Yarrell, 1871-85; Lorand & Atkin, 1989).

[KAN].

History "W.F.R." of Halton Holegate [sic] (1866) in The Field of 14th Apr., Vol. XXVII. p. 317, says: 'It may interest some of your readers in this country to know that a Bustard was seen last Tuesday in the fen side of this parish. It flew low, just across the field, and dropped behind a low fence, whither we followed it, and got within thirty yards of it, when it rose again and flew across us, dropping over a low fence as before. A pair of Bustards was seen a few years ago at Candleby, three miles from here, but since that I have not heard of any.'

In an Editorial (1871) in The Field of 7th Jan., Vol. XXXVII. p. 6, they say '...Mr. Stevenson gives the following list: - ...and a notice by a correspondent in The Field (April 14th, 1866, p. 317) of one seen, at that time, at Halton Holegate [sic], in Lincolnshire; and a pair at Candleby, in the same neighbourhood, a few years before.'

Cordeaux (1872: 85) says: 'Mentioned by Mr. Stevenson in a footnote, page 30, Vol. II. Birds of Norfolk, was seen in April in 1866 near Halton Holgate, Spilsby, Lincolnshire.'

Admitted by Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 206, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds and accepted locally (Lorand & Atkin 1989).

Comment Anonymous records were unacceptable to ornithologists. Also, the bird is just a 'Bustard' with no mention of size. Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. Not specifically identified. Not acceptable.

0). 1871 Sussex Near Rye, seen, February.

("H.V.C." Field 25th Feb., 1871; "H.V.C." Field 30th Nov., 1872: 531).

[Walpole-Bond, 1938].

History "H.V.C." (1872) in The Field of 30th Nov., Vol. XL. p. 531, says: '...I see that, according to our local paper, a Sea Eagle was shot in this neighbourhood four or five years ago; but I think this must have been the Great Bustard (Otis tarda) - a specimen of which I saw alive two years ago in Romney Marsh....'

[...We should be glad to have particulars of the Great Bustard seen by our correspondent on Romney Marsh. - Ed.]

Walpole-Bond (1938 (3): 318-319) says: 'One of these "doubtfuls" comes first. Thus, H.V.C., writing in The Field of February 25th, 1871, thought that a Great Bustard had been seen shortly before that date in the vicinity of Rye, though there was some talk of its having been an Eagle. The latter supposition to me sounds most likely, since, had this bird been a Great Bustard, surely the whiteness of most of its ample wings and under-plumage would have been commented on?'

Comment Anonymous records were unacceptable to ornithologists. Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. Not acceptable.

0). 1873 Suffolk Wangford/Lakenheath Warrens, seen, August.

(W. Howlett, Field 16th Aug., 1873: 190; E. Newman, Zoologist 1873: 3692; M. C. Cooke, Hardwicke's Science Gossip 1873: 234; H. Stevenson, Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society 2: 306; Ticehurst, 1932).

[Babington, 1884-86; Lack, 1934].

History William Howlett (1873) in The Field of 16th Aug., Vol. XLII. p. 190, and E. Newman, Editor (1873) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. VIII. p. 3692, quoting from The Field, of 16th August, 1873, says: 'During the past few days a strange bird has been seen on the Wangford and Lakenheath warrens. The two gentlemen who saw it describe it as being nearly as large as a Turkey, and of a rusty colour; in fact more like a Turkey than anything else. When it flew it was a long time before it could rise from the ground. They could not get nearer than sixty or seventy yards to it. I have been over myself, but could not see the bird, the warrens being so very extensive. The labouring men in the district to whom I spoke confirmed the account previously received.'

M. C. Cooke, Editor (1873) in Hardwicke's Science Gossip, Vol. IX. p. 234, quotes the same story as above. Henry Stevenson (1874-79) in the Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society, Vol. II. p. 306, in a footnote, says: 'A bustard was recorded by Mr. Howlett, of Newmarket, in The Field of August 16th, 1873, as recently seen on the Wangford and Lakenheath warrens; and the description of the bird said to have been observed there, answered to that of a Bustard.'

Babington (1884-86: 111) in a footnote placed with an * in front of this record which according to pp. 19-20 means "When an asterisk is prefixed to the name of a bird in the text this denotes that it has already been published as a Suffolk species, but that its claim to be considered is in my opinion doubtful".

It was accepted later (Ticehurst 1932: 326; Piotrowski 2003: 137).

Comment Babington found it unacceptable, yet subsequent authors accept it. Lack (1934: 47) called Howlett notoriously unreliable and rejected all his records for Cambridgeshire. August is an unusual date for this winter visitor. Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. Not acceptable.

0). Pre 1884 Kent Whitstable, shot, undated.

(Dowker, 1889; Ticehurst, 1909; Harrison, 1953).

[KAN].

History Dowker (1889: 36) says: '...another in the Canterbury Museum was believed to have been shot at Whitstable.'

Ticehurst (1909: 405) says: 'There is also a specimen in the Canterbury Museum, which Dowker states is believed to have been shot at Whitstable, but the date (1884) given by him in his list is quite wrong, as the bird is obviously of a far earlier date.'

Comment Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. Could possibly be any of the preceding records for Kent. Not acceptable.

0). 1899 Sussex Near Horsham, seen, April.

(Millais, 1905).

[Walpole-Bond, 1938].

History J. G. Millais (1905 (1): 291) in the Victoria County History of Sussex, says: 'A very large bird appeared in a field near Horsham in April, 1899, and from the description given to me by the farmer and one of his labourers I have little doubt that it was a bird of this species.'

Not accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (3): 320).

Comment Third-hand report. Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. Not acceptable.

0). c. 1890s Lincolnshire Addlethorpe, near Skegness, male, shot, undated.

(Lorand & Atkin, 1989).

[KAN].

History Lorand & Atkin (1989) say: 'A male was shot at Addlethorpe, near Skegness towards the end of the 19th century.'

Comment Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. Details are very meagre. Not acceptable.

0). 1900 Norfolk Near Thetford, fifteen, released, August to at least June, 2001, when four/five left; male, Swaffham Prior, summer, 1901.

(J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1902: 83-84; J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1903: 125-126).

[J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1902: 83-84].

History J. H. Gurney, jun. (1902) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. VI. pp. 83-84, says: 'The fifteen Great Bustards which were imported from Spain, and turned down, feather-pinioned, near Thetford (see last year's Notes), as I learn from Mr. Hill, who has obliged me with reports from time to time, remained on the same estate until the middle of June, when, their wing-feathers being grown, all but four or five took their departure, and two were almost immediately shot at Finningham, in Suffolk.

Both the slayer and his master were prosecuted, but this could not bring the Bustards to life again. In October last the head keeper was still able to say that there were two males and two females left. These four were well guarded, but on Dec. 13th they had strayed as far as Mildenhall, near Newmarket (Howlett). However, on the 17th, they were safely back at their proper quarters, three of them flying strongly; but the fourth, a female, has an injured wing.'

J. H. Gurney, jun., of Keswick Hall, Norwich (1903) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. VII. pp. 125-126, says: 'There is no good news to give of the Great Bustards turned down in the Brandon district in August, 1900, which, it will be remembered, were reduced by migration and disaster to four when the last "Norfolk Notes" were printed.

In March, 1902, Mr. J. S. Elliott wrote that one of them, evidently a cock, had taken up its quarters at Croxton, in Cambridgeshire. Very shortly afterwards I learnt from Prof. Newton that a cock Bustard - probably the same bird - had been caught alive at Oakington, also in Cambridgeshire. Whether the captor had the patriotism to release it I cannot say, but Mr. William Hill, in whose charge all these Bustards originally were, wrote me some time later that a cock had been seen for some time at Swaffham Prior.

This cock was considered by Mr. J. L. Bonhote to have been the same Bustard, which, after being loyally respected for nearly six months, was unfortunately shot by a farmer who had not seen the placards which were posted up about it, by order of the Chief Constable, at Bottisham, in Cambridgeshire, on Sept. 25th. On Nov. 5th Mr. William Howlett saw the two last remaining Bustards, a cock and a hen, at Mildenhall, which is nine miles south of Brandon, and they were again seen by others at Barton Mills; these are all that are left of the fifteen originally turned down! In June there was prospect of breeding, for the hen laid two eggs near Elveden. Mr. Hill allowed her to sit for six weeks, and then took the eggs, which proved to be unincubated. Incubation ought to be about twenty-six days, according to Mr. Evans's table.

I learn from my correspondent, Mr. Caton Haigh, that on Dec. 15th a female Great Bustard was shot in Lincolnshire, and another on the 29th, but fortunately neither formed part of the tame birds from Suffolk, where, at the time of closing these notes, Mr. Hill could still report the pair above mentioned as being quite safe.

No doubt the Lincolnshire Bustards were migrants which had crossed the sea, only to receive the customary welcome of rare birds on British shores. Two others also appeared in Ireland (Field).'

Comment Introduced Spanish stock.

0). 1901 Suffolk Finningham, two, shot, late June.

(J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1902: 83-84).

[J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1902: 83-84].

History J. H. Gurney, jun. (1902) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. VI. pp. 83-84, says: '...two were almost immediately shot at Finningham, in Suffolk. Both the slayer and his master were prosecuted, but this could not bring the Bustards to life again.' See 1900 Norfolk record for further details.

Comment Introduced Spanish stock.

0). 1901 Suffolk Mildenhall, pair, seen, 5th November; same pair, Barton Mills, November.

(J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1903: 125).

[J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1902: 83-84].

History J. H. Gurney, jun., of Keswick Hall, Norwich (1903) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. VII. p. 125, says: 'On Nov. 5th Mr. William Howlett saw the two last remaining Bustards, a cock and a hen, at Mildenhall, which is nine miles south of Brandon, and they were again seen by others at Barton Mills; these are all that are left of the fifteen originally turned down.'

Ticehurst (1932: 326) says: 'In 1900 there was an attempt to reintroduce the Great Bustard into Suffolk....Each year from 1901-1903 a nest was made.' See 1900 Norfolk record for further details.

Comment Introduced Spanish stock.

0). 1902 Cambridgeshire Croxton, male, seen, March; same, Oakington, caught alive, April; same, Bottisham, shot, 25th September; also in Norfolk.

(J. L. Bonhote, Field 11th Oct., 1902: 638; R. Bowdler Sharpe, Bulletin British Ornithologists' Club 13: 13-14; J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1903: 125).

[Lack, 1934].

History R. Bowdler Sharpe, Editor (1902) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XIII. pp. 13-14, at the 90th Meeting of the Club held on 22nd October 1902 at the Restaurant Frascati, London, says: 'Mr. Bonhote also made some remarks on the Great Bustard which had recently been shot in Cambridgeshire, and suggested that if it were desired to establish the species once more among our fauna, further consignments of these birds should be imported. Owing to the interest taken by some local farmers, the present example had been permitted to roam the district in safety for nearly six months, and local rustics were just beginning to realize that it was a bird best left alone - an idea which the recent conviction no doubt strengthened.

As the Great Bustard was protected throughout the year, and the police had in this instance taken every care to secure a conviction, there was now every chance that birds, if imported, would be unmolested.'

J. H. Gurney, jun., of Keswick Hall, Norwich (1903) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. VII. p. 125, says: 'In March, 1902, Mr. J. S. Steele-Elliott wrote that one of them [fifteen reintroductees], evidently a cock, had taken up its quarters at Croxton, in Cambridgeshire. Very shortly afterwards I learn from Prof. Newton that a cock Bustard - probably the same bird - had been caught alive at Oakington, also in Cambridgeshire. Whether the captor had the patriotism to release it I cannot say, but Mr. William Hill, in whose charge all these Bustards originally were, wrote me some time later that a cock had been seen for some time at Swaffham Prior.

This cock was considered by Mr. J. L. Bonhote to have been the same Bustard, which after being loyally respected for nearly six months, was unfortunately shot by a farmer who had not seen the placards which were posted about it, by order of the Chief Constable, at Bottisham, in Cambridgeshire, on Sept. 25th.'

Lack (1934: 110) says: 'One was shot near Bottisham, in 1902 (Bonhote, Bull. B.O.C., 1902; Field, 11th Oct., 1902) but this related to an individual belonging to the release scheme in Suffolk a year or two earlier.' See 1900 Norfolk record for further details.

Comment Introduced Spanish stock.

0). 1902 Lincolnshire Weelsby, female, killed, 15th December.

(J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1903: 126; G. H. Caton Haigh, Zoologist 1903: 368; Lorand & Atkin, 1989).

[H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 2: 147; Smith & Cornwallis, 1955].

History J. H. Gurney, jun., of Keswick Hall, Norwich (1903) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. VII. p. 126, says: 'I learn from my correspondent, Mr. Caton Haigh, that on Dec. 15th a female Great Bustard was shot in Lincolnshire, and another on the 29th, but unfortunately neither formed part of the tame birds from Suffolk, where, at the time of closing these notes, Mr. Hill could still report the pair above mentioned as being quite safe. No doubt the Lincolnshire Bustards were migrants which had crossed the sea, only to receive the customary welcome of rare birds on British shores.'

G. H. Caton Haigh (1903) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. VII. p. 368, says: 'On Dec. 8th I saw, at the shop of Mr. F. Jeffreys, at Grainsby, a freshly-killed Bustard, which had been sent in from Weelsby. This bird was a female, but I could obtain no further information about it.'

H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst (1908) in British Birds, Vol. II. pp. 147-148, under 'On the More Important Additions to our Knowledge of British Birds since 1899', placing the record in square brackets, say: 'Two females were killed, one at Weelsby, the other at Tetney, on December 15th and 29th, 1902 (G. H. Caton Haigh, Zool., 1903, p. 368). These are looked upon by Mr. Gurney (t. c., p. 125) as genuine migrants, and not part of the Norfolk introduced birds, but there seems no proof for this.'

Comment Introduced Spanish stock.

0). 1902 Gower Pontardawe, shot, 20th December.

(T. W. Proger & D. R. Paterson, Transactions of the Cardiff Naturalists' Society 1903: 126; Williams & Son, Irish Naturalist 12: 248; Lovegrove, Williams & Williams, 1994).

[WOS, Scarce and Rare Birds in Wales 2019: 42].

History T. W. Proger & D. R. Paterson (1903) in the Transactions of the Cardiff Naturalists' Society, Vol. XXXVI. p. 126, say 'A perfect specimen of this rare bird was shot December 20th, 1902, by a farmer near Pontardawe, who thought it was a wild goose. This bird is now preserved and in the possession of Mr. Arthur Gilbertson, Glanrhyd, Pontardawe.

It was exhibited for a short time in the Welsh Museum, Cardiff. This fine species formerly bred in this country, and formed a striking object in the landscape; but the enclosure of waste land and the increase in the population led to its gradual passing away.'

Williams & Son (1903) in the Irish Naturalist, Vol. XII. p. 248, say: 'In the Irish Naturalist for July (p. 198 supra) we see a paragraph casting doubt on the Great Bustard shot in Tipperary being a genuine wild bird. We received the same week in December a very fine specimen from Glamorganshire.

As two years have elapsed since the fifteen Great Bustards were liberated in Norfolk, and in a recent number of The Field every single liberated bird has been accounted for, we may safely conclude that the Irish specimen has not had an assisted passage; we may also remark that both specimens, Irish and Welsh, have been carefully examined by the gentleman who brought the birds to Norfolk, and his conclusion was that they werebonâ fide travellers.

Of course there will always be a certain amount of doubt when there is only one occurrence of a species in a locality, but in this instance the two birds were seen for some weeks, and the bird was shot in Wales in the same week in which the Irish specimen was obtained.'

Nationally, Lovegrove, Williams & Williams (1994) say: '20 December 1902. One shot, Pontardawe (Glamorgan).'

0). 1902 Lincolnshire Tetney, female, killed, 29th December.

(J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1903: 126; G. H. Caton Haigh, Zoologist 1903: 368; Lorand & Atkin, 1989).

[H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 2: 147; Smith & Cornwallis, 1955].

History J. H. Gurney, jun., of Keswick Hall, Norwich (1903) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. VII. p. 126, says: 'I learn from my correspondent, Mr. Caton Haigh, that on Dec. 15th a female Great Bustard was shot in Lincolnshire, and another on the 29th, but unfortunately neither formed part of the tame birds from Suffolk, where, at the time of closing these notes, Mr. Hill could still report the pair above mentioned as being quite safe. No doubt the Lincolnshire Bustards were migrants which had crossed the sea, only to receive the customary welcome of rare birds on British shores.'

G. H. Caton Haigh (1903) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. VII. p. 368, says: '...On 29th a second Great Bustard - also a female - was shot by a wildfowler on Tetney cow-marsh. It measured 31 in. in length, and weighed 7¾ lb.'

H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst (1908) in British Birds, Vol. II. pp. 147-148, under 'On the More Important Additions to our Knowledge of British Birds since 1899', placing the record in square brackets, say: 'Two females were killed, one at Weelsby, the other at Tetney, on December 15th and 29th, 1902 (G. H. Caton Haigh, Zool., 1903, p. 368). These are looked upon by Mr. Gurney (t. c., p. 125) as genuine migrants, and not part of the Norfolk introduced birds, but there seems no proof for this.'

Comment Introduced Spanish stock.

0). 1906 Nottinghamshire South Collingham, near Newark, 1st, 23rd to 24th April.

(Whitaker, 1907; Dobbs, 1975).

[KAN].

History Whitaker (1907) says: 'I am delighted to be able to add this magnificent bird to my list, and it was only this spring (1906) it was first seen. Mr. Henry Wigram, of the Lodge, South Collingham, near Newark-on-Trent, writes me: "I first saw it on April 1st, it was in a grass field, and was in the act of rising from the ground, having been disturbed by some people passing (who did not see it). Though at first it did not appear to be flying fast, it got away so quickly that I could not get my glasses on it. I was much struck with the pace it flew with comparatively slow beats of the wings. On the second occasion the bird flew right over my head, at a height I should say of twenty yards, this was in the evening, and I had a clear good sight of it. The following day my wife saw it taking exactly the same line of flight. One or two others saw a strange large bird about. My man was with me on both occasions, and we agreed it was about a yard-and-half across the wings. I have since looked at a coloured plate of the Great Bustard and it entirely corresponds with the bird I saw". I may add Mr. Wigram is a keen and careful observer of birds and a good field naturalist, and I am perfectly satisfied that it was a Great Bustard he saw.'

Comment April fool! Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. Possible introductee. Not acceptable.

0). 1908 Yorkshire Near Cloughton, shot, December.

(J. Morley, Zoologist 1909: 78).

[W. H. St. Quintin, Zoologist 1909: 113; Eds., British Birds 2: 348].

History J. Morley of Scarborough (1909) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. XIII. p. 78, says: 'A Great Bustard was shot at Cloughton, near Scarborough, about last Christmas-time, by Mr. Bennett, who unfortunately did not have it preserved, but took it home and had it cooked instead of a Turkey for Christmas dinner, and he says: it was superior in delicacy to the Turkey.'

W. H. St. Quintin of Scampston Hall, Rillington, Yorks. (1909) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. XIII. p. 113, says: 'In The Zoologist (ante, p. 78) it is stated by Mr. Morley, under the head of 'Ornithological Notes from Scarborough', that a Great Bustard had been shot near Cloughton last December. Some of the feathers of the bird were sent to me, and it was easy to see that it had been no Bustard but a female Silver Pheasant. Although I had no doubt myself on the subject, I sent on the feathers to the Natural History Museum, where my opinion was confirmed. I saw a letter from Mr. Bennett, in which he spoke of the legs and feet and the space round the eye being of a bright red.'

In an Editorial (1909) in British Birds, Vol. II. p. 348, he says: 'Mr. J. Morley records in The Zoologist (1909, p. 78) that a Mr. Bennett shot a Great Bustard near Scarborough "about last Christmastime", which he had cooked and found superior in delicacy to a Turkey! Although the skin was not preserved, we find on enquiry that two of the tail-feathers were, and Mr. Oxley Grabham informs us that these have been positively identified as those of a female Silver-Pheasant!

It is well to make sure of the facts before putting into print the record of a rarity.'

Comment Misidentified. Not acceptable.

0). Pre 1909 Kent Barham Downs, killed, undated.

(Ticehurst, 1909).

[KAN].

History Ticehurst (1909) says: 'The Rev. Benjamin Austen, of Walmer, informs me that one was killed on Barham Downs some years ago by Mr. Oxenden, of Broome Park, but the present owner of the property, Mr. B. H. D. Dixwell Oxenden, is unable to give me any information on it.'

Comment Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. Not known to have been seen by a competent ornithologist. Not acceptable.

0). 1911 Devon Woody Bay, nine, seen, autumn.

(E. Packard, Field 23rd Sep., 1911: 709).

[Not in Moore, 1969].

History E. Packard, Chairman of Ipswich Museum Committee (1911) in The Field of 23rd Sept., Vol. CXVIII. p. 709, says: 'I read with much interest your article in The Field on the Great Bustard, and you may be glad to know that four of the Norfolk birds which were unfortunately shot are preserved in the Ipswich Museum.

I was recently staying at Woody Bay, North Devon, and met a gentleman there who informed me that he had seen nine bustards on a bit of green on the sea side of the woods on the eastern point of Woody Bay. He has been a frequent visitor there for some years past, but did not know how the birds came to be on this spot. The property is now owned by Mr. Bailey, of Ley Abbey, and whilst sketching near the Abbey I saw one of the bustards alight on the ground not far off, this is some two miles from Woody Bay. The woods on the point of Woody Bay are included in the lease of the present tenant of the Manor House close by, at so I understood. I dare say I could get you the address of the gentleman who gave me the information if you cared to communicate with him.'

[We should be glad of any further information, and especially the date on which the nine bustards were seen. - Ed.]

Comment No information forthcoming. Hearsay record. Not acceptable.

0). 1915 Lancashire & North Merseyside Near Blackburn, seen, about 7th September.

(A. T. Hopwood, Field 16th Oct., 1915: 677).

[White, McCarthy & Jones, 2008].

History Arthur T. Hopwood (1915) in The Field of 16th Oct., Vol. CXXVI. p. 677, says: 'May I trespass upon your space in an endeavour to ascertain whether a Great Bustard was in the vicinity of Blackburn on or about Sept. 7 last. The bird in question was noticed by me about 6.30 in the evening on Sept. 7 in a field on the right of Whinney Lane, near a footpath leading to Wiltshire. It was of a brownish colour above, and white below. Its size was about that of a medium turkey, and its appearance was unusual. Its "cheeks" bore longish feathers resembling whiskers, whilst its flight was powerful, but was a feature to which I did not give much attention.

If any readers observed such a bird, or know of a bustard having escaped, will they please communicate with me at once? I am assured on the highest authority that a bustard is an exceedingly rare bird in Lancashire.'

[Two or three examples of the Little Bustard have been reported from Lancashire, but so far as we remember none of the Great Bustard. - Ed.]

Not accepted locally (White, McCarthy & Jones 2008).

Comment Not specifically identified. Not acceptable.

0). 1945 Somerset Locality in the West, seen, 14th September.

(M. Evershed, Field 10th Nov., 1945: 486; M. Brooks-King et al., Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society Report 1945: 8).

[M. Brooks-King et al., Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society Report 1945: 8].

History May Evershed of Birmingham (1945) in The Field of 10th Nov., Vol. CLXXXVI. p. 486, says: 'A friend of mine while on holiday near Lynton, was riding on September 14th on the seaward side of the Countisbury road between Porlock and Lynton, and saw a bird which ran through the wood on the hillside. She described it to me as a turkey-like bird, both in size and shape, with light coloured underparts, more brightly coloured and with a rounder head without wattles. Miss P. Lancekivell, of Cloud Farm, Brendan, Lynton, who also saw the bird, had never seen one like it and had no idea what it was.

In Trevelyan's English Social History I read that in Tudor times "Horsemen and greyhounds hunted the swift-footed young Bustard over the downs", and it occurred to me that this might be the Great Bustard. On showing my friend an engraving of one in Morris's British Birds, she had no hesitation in saying that it was the same bird, probably a female as it appeared somewhat darker than the male in the plate.

I should be interested to know if the appearance of any other Great Bustard in this country has been reported in recent years.'

M. Brooks-King et al. (1945) in the Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society Report, Vol. XVIII. p. 8, say 'W. Somerset. September 14th, a bird like a Turkey in size and shape, with light-coloured underparts, but more brightly coloured, and a rounder head without wattles, ran through a wood on a hill-side. There was also some white on the bird.

The day was misty and it was therefore difficult to describe colour accurately. Its shape and attitude were exactly similar to the Little Bustard shown when running in Morris's British Birds. Reported in The Field as Great Bustard, 10th November, 1945. Details added in litt. by Miss Evershed to (E.W.H.).'

[It is possible this bird may have been a Bustard, but from the description given it is impossible to say to which species it belonged.... - Eds.]

Comment Not specifically identified. Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. Not acceptable.