File:Stories about birds of land and water (1874) (14564235788).jpg

Identifier: storiesaboutbird00kirb (find matches)
Title: Stories about birds of land and water
Year: 1874 (1870s)
Authors: Kirby, Mary, 1817-1893 Kirby, Elizabeth, 1823-1873
Subjects: Birds -- Juvenile literature
Publisher: Hartford (Conn.) : American Publishing Co.
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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e time before it can gather air enough to leave the ground. The bustard is much larger than the turkey, and its flesh is so delicatethat it would be eagerly sought after were it at all plentiful. But it is a birdthat loves the open plain, where it can see all round ; and while there weresuch places left in England, it lived in flocks. But now that the countryis covered with meadows and corn-fields, there are no retreats left for thebustard. It is very rarely seen, except on wild and solitary commons, suchas Salisbury Plain, or the heaths of Sussex and Cambridgeshire, or even inthe wild districts of Scotland. The flat plains of Norfolk, called the bustard country, form an excellenthome for the bustard, and about fifty years ago it used to be abundant there.And about the city of Norwich an attempt was made to keep bustardsin a domestic state like the famous Norfolk turkeys. Their flesh was sodelicious, and so much sought after, that it was wished to increase the 194 STORIES ABOUT BIRDS.
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GREAT BUSTARDS. numbers. By good care and feeding, the farmers wife hoped the birdswould lay eggs, and rear the broods, but this was not the case. For the last half century scarce a bustard has been seen, and every timesuch has been the case, the fact has been recorded with interest THE BUSTARD. :95 One large bird was taken on Newmarket Heath, and sold in Londonfor five guineas. A gentleman, who was a great sportsman, once declared that he saw < .s;-!^

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