THE LITTLE BUSTARD. " 377 



we consider it to be derived from oie tarde, " a slow goose " 

 (and Pliny, it must be remembered, classes the bird with 

 geese), not only shall we be helped towards the Scottish 

 name Gustard, but see a reason why the name (7a?zepetiere 

 should be given to a bird, resembling the Outarde in figure, 

 but as much inferior to it in size as the Duck is to the 

 Goose; these last being also birds which bear a correspond- 

 ing resemblance to each other in shape and habits. 



THE CEEAM-COLOURED COURSER 



CURSORIUS EUROP^US. 



Plumage reddish cream colour ; wing-coverts bordered with ash-grey : throat 

 whitish ; behind the eyes a double black bar ; lateral tail-feathers black 

 towards the tip, with a white spot in the centre of the black ; abdomen 

 whitish. Length nine inches. Eggs unknown. 



Though the specific name Europaeus would seem to imply 

 that this bird is of frequent occurrence in Europe, this is 

 not the case. Isot more than three or four have been 

 observed in Great Britain, at various intervals, from 1785 

 to 1827; and on the Continent it is an equally rare vibitor 

 to the plains of Provence and Languedoc. 



It is a native of Syria, Egypt, and Abyssinia, frequenting 

 pools and other moist situations. It is singularly fearless 

 of man, and when disturbed prefers to run, which it does 

 very swiftly, rather than to take flight. Its winter resi- 

 dence is supposed to be the central lakes of Africa, from 

 which it returns to the countries named above early in 

 autumn, and disappears at the approach of winter. Nothing 

 is known of its nidifi cation. 



