02 BRITISH BIRDS. 



Genus CURSORITJS. 



The Coursers were placed by Gerini in the genus Pluvialis, and afterwards 

 by Latham in the genus Charadrius but the latter author in 1790, in 

 his ' Index Ornithologicus/ ii. p. 751, established the genus Cursorius 

 for their reception. The Cream-coloured Courser, C. gallicus, the species 

 first mentioned by Latham, has by common consent been accepted as 

 the type. 



The Coursers have the tarsus scutellated both in front and at the back, 

 but they have no hind toe. They might be included in the genus 

 Vanellus, but are distinguishable by the difference in the form of the bill, 

 which resembles closely that of Pratincola. The line of the gape and the 

 profile of the under mandible are much curved downwards. 



Ten species belonging to this genus are known, and are confined to the 

 tropical portions of the Old World. One of these is an accidental visitor 

 to Europe and the British Islands. 



The Coursers frequent dry arid plains and sandy deserts almost bare of 

 vegetation. They are sociable birds, and are generally met with in small 

 parties. They run quickly, and take wing with reluctance, depending more 

 on the protective colour of their plumage for safety. Their food is princi- 

 pally composed of insects of different kinds. Their notes are harsh and 

 unmusical. They make no nest, depositing their two or three eggs in a 

 small hollow in the ground. 



