CREAM-COLOURED COURSER. 461 



THE commencement of the Fourth Order, the Gralla- 

 tores, or Wading Birds, may be considered also as the 

 commencement 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. 



The Cream-coloured Courser was first described by 

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

 rarely found north of the Mediterranean. It is a native 

 of Africa, Egypt, Nubia, and Abyssinia, and is said to be 

 more numerous in the latter country than elsewhere, and 

 is only an accidental visitor to the southern parts of 

 Europe. 



It is in fact only a summer visitor along the line of the 

 North African coast, from Tangiers to Tripoli. At Tan- 

 giers it is very rare, and from the great resemblance be- 

 tween the colour of this bird and that of the sand of the 

 desert, it is with difficulty seen, even when flying, since it 

 then keeps very close to the ground. Dr. Dickson says of 

 one shot at Tripoli, this bird is probably an inhabitant of 

 the inland lakes of Africa, for it makes its appearance here 

 during the months of July and August, and quits us again 

 for the winter. It frequents pools and other moist situa- 

 tions, where it is seen occasionally in astonishing numbers. 

 It is a shy bird, and reckoned good eating. 



One example of this very rare bird was shot by William 

 Hammond, Esq., of St. Alban's Court, near Wingham, in 

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

 with the following account : "He first met with it, run- 

 ning upon some light land ; and so little fearful was it, that 

 after he had sent for a gun, one was brought to him, which 



