I enjoyed the article by Lewis Cowen about the latest arrival of

bustards on Salisbury Plain very much and found it most interesting.

However, I have to point out that, in fact, bustards have been heard on the Plain much more recently than 170 years ago. In 1971 the now defunct Great Bustard Trust Fund brought bustards in from Spain and for a while these roamed on Porton Down, where I was fortunate to view them from a hide, invited by the chairman of the trust, Mr Aylmer Tryon.

Whenever I read about these great birds I am reminded of the following limerick (written by an American professor):

The bustard is an exquisite fowl

With minimal reason to growl

He escapes what would be

Illegitimacy

By grace of a fortunate vowel.

G Jones

Urchfont