CREAM-COLOUREU COURSER, 877 



The commencement of the Fourth Order, tlie GralLatores, 

 or Wading Birds, may be considered also as the commence- 

 ment of the Water Birds, when two systematic divisions only 

 are adopted, — those of the Land Birds and those of the 

 Water, which two divisions, in reference to the ornithology 

 of the British Islands, divide the whole number of birds into 

 two very nearly equal parts. The present series commences 

 with those birds among the Waders which have the closest 

 relation to the Bustards last described. 



The Cream-coloured Courser was first described by BufFon 

 from a specimen killed in France ; but this bird is rarely 

 found north of the Mediterranean. It is a native of Africa 

 and Abyssinia, and is said to be more numerous in the latter 

 country than elsewhere, and is only an accidental visiter to 

 the southern parts of Europe. 



One example of this very rare bird was shot by William 

 Hammond, Esq. of St. Albans Court, near Wingham, in 

 East Kent, who presented the specimen to Dr. Latham, with 

 the following account : — " He first met with it running upon 

 some light land ; and so little fearful was it, that after he had 

 sent for a gun, one was brought to him, which having been 

 charged some time, did not readily go off, and in consequence 

 he missed his aim. The report frightened the bird away ; but 

 after making a turn or two, it again settled within a hundred 

 yards of him, wdien he was prepared with a second shot, 

 which despatched it. It was observed to run with incredible 

 swiftness, and, at intervals, to pick up something from the 

 ground ; and was so bold, as to render it difficult to make it 

 rise from the ground, in order to take a more secure aim on 

 the wing. The note was not like any kind of Plovers, nor, 

 indeed, to be compared with that of any known bird." 



Dr. Fleming, in his British Animals, records one that was 

 shot in North Wales in 1793 by Mr. George Kingston, of 

 Queen's College, Oxford. 



