CEDICNEMID.E. 153 
and E. cnstata), as well as in several others of the Bustard 
family. 
212. HouBARA UNDULATA (Jacq.) . The Houbara or Ruffed 
Bustard. 
This Bustard is not mentioned by Favier -, but I saw one 
specimen of it, which had been obtained near Tangier in 
August ; further south it is stated to be frequently met with. 
Though the Houbara has doubtless occurred in Andalucia, 
it must be considered extremely rare there. I never saw or 
heard of one. 
It is easily to be distinguished by the white crest and by 
the black-and-white ruff formed by the elongated feathers 
which grow at the back of the neck. Whether this plumage 
is peculiar to adult males I cannot find out; but probably such 
is the case. 
Length about 24 inches ; tarsus 4 inches. 
Family (EnicNEMiDiE. 
213. CEdicnemus crepitans, Temm. The Thick-knee, or 
Stone-Curlew. 
Moorish. El Karuana. Spanish. Alcaravan. 
The Thick-knee is found on both sides of the Straits as a 
resident in considerable numbers, nesting generally about the 
beginning of May, and depositing its complement of two eggs 
usually on stony dry ground. 
These birds are far more common in the winter months, and 
most so during their migration, which is northwards during 
March and April, and southwards in October, November, and 
December. They pass in lots of from five or six to fifty in 
number, and are chiefly observed on ploughed fields, generally 
near the banks of rivers, where I have sometimes shot them 
as they flew by when I was waiting for ducks in the evening. 
Except in the breeding-season, I have found them rather 
wild. They are, when nesting, very noisy at night, and are, 
doubtless, nocturnal- feeding birds. 
