The Asiatic Houhara in Scotland. 163 



crest, a moderately developed ruff on the sides of the neck, 

 and some show of bluish-grey on the sides of the chest. 



It is the fourth British example of an Eastern species, 

 which, as its name implies, is not even a native of Europe — 

 its nearest haunts being in Persia, whence it spreads east- 

 wards through the Aralo- Caspian region and Beluchistan to 

 Northern and Western India. This fine Bustard is thus a 

 remarkable example of those erratic wanderers, not a few of 

 which, from time to time, appear in Britain, chiefly in the 

 autumn months. 



It is worthy of note that all the specimens of this 

 Houbara which have been known to visit our shores have 

 been obtained in the vicinity of the East Coast, and all of 

 them in the month of October. 



The following are the previous British records : — 



One (presumably a female, from the dimensions given), Kirton 

 Lindsay, Lincolnshire, obtained on 7th October 1847 

 {Zoologist, 1848, pp. 1969, 2065, 2146). First recorded as 

 a Little Bustard. 



A male, Marske, north-east coast of Yorkshire, 5th October 

 1892 {Zoologist, 1893, p. 21). 



A young male, near Spurn Head, Yorkshire coast, 17th 

 October 1896 {Zoologist, 1896, p. 433). I had the pleasure 

 of seeing this specimen, both on the wing and while 

 feeding, just before it was obtained. 



The Asiatic Houbara has occurred in several European 

 countries, but everywhere as a rare and accidental visitor. 

 There is no evidence that it is a migratory species, unless, 

 indeed, its visits to Northern India, in the winter, from 

 adjoining regions can be regarded as affording evidence of 

 the migratory habit. 



It is somewhat remarkable that the only other member of 

 the genus, the African Houbara {H. undulata), which inhabits 

 Northern Africa and the Canary Islands, thus occurring as 

 near to us as Algeria, has not yet been known to visit our 

 islands, though it occasionally crosses the Mediterranean, to 

 appear as a wanderer in the countries of Southern Europe. 



