50 BIRD GALLERY. 



No. 134. CREAM-COLOURED COURSER. 



(Cursorius gallicus.) 



This species is an irregular straggler to Europe, and about a score of 

 individuals have been procured in Great Britain, chiefly in the southern 

 counties of England. Its true home extends from the Canary Islands 

 and North Africa, through South-western Asia, to India. It frequents 

 sandy districts, where the surroundings harmonize in colour with its 

 plumage and afford equal protection for its young and eggs. The 

 latter, which are two in number and yellowish-buff, thickly spotted and 

 freckled with yellowish-brown and grey, are laid on the bare parts of 

 the desert, where the stones are mostly small. The male bird takes no 

 part in the duties of incubation, but is said to assist in caring for the 

 young. 



Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, March. 



Presented by E. G. B. Meade-Waldo, Esq. 



No. 135. COMMON HERON. (Ardea cinerea.) 



This species is generally distributed throughout the British Islands, 

 and during the breeding- season is usually met with in colonies, known 

 as heronries ; but from August onwards it often leads a solitary 

 existence on the coast and inland waters. Its nests are generally 

 placed on the tops of high trees, sometimes on sea-cliffs or rocks, and 

 occasionally on the ground ; they are large flat structures formed of 

 sticks and lined with roots and dry grass. From three to five uniform 

 bluish-green eggs are laid in March or, in mild seasons, even as early as 

 January. Both parents assist in providing the young with food, which 

 Consists of fish, frogs, reptiles, young water-fowl, mice and voles, as 

 well as worms, molluscs, and insects. 



Perthshire, June. 



Presented by W. R. Ogilvie- Grant, Esq. 



No. 136. COMMON SCOTER. (CEdemia nigra.) 



Vast numhers visit our seas in winter, and the species is especially 

 abundant on the east coast of Great Britain, where it is often found in 

 numbers exceeding those of any other Duck. In spring the majority 

 of adult birds depart to the north of Europe, but some remain to breed 

 in the north of Scotland.. The food, consists chiefly of molluscs, which 





