298 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



( See preceding page. ) 



MACQUEEN'S Bustard (Otis Macqueeni, Gray) is an exceed- 

 ingly rare abnormal autumn migrant to the British Isles, 

 and inhabits the South Central Palearctic Region. The 

 adult male has the upper plumage light sandy-buff and rich 

 cream or reddish-fawn colour, with darker markings here 

 and there, and fine vermiculations of dark brown ; the 

 upper crest feathers are white tipped with black ; undermost 

 crest feathers, white; ruff on side of neck, mostly black; 

 tail, barred irregularly with three bands of bluish-grey ; sides 

 of head, pale fawn, with fine vermiculations of brown ; 

 feathers of crop, grey and elongated ; under parts, white ; 

 under tail-coverts, banded and vermiculated with black. 

 Length, about twenty-six inches. 



STONE CURLEW. 



THE Stone Curlew (CEdincnemus crepitans, Temminck) is 

 a summer migrant to the British Islands, but examples are 

 occasionally obtained in winter. It also occurs in temperate 

 Europe, Northern Africa, as well as South -Western Asia. 

 The adult has the upper parts light brown, streaked down 

 the centres of feathers with dark brown; primaries, black, 

 the first two being banded with white ; between greater and 

 lesser wing-coverts a light band passes across; feathers of 

 tail, faint brown, variegated with brown of a darker shade ; 

 a streak below the eye and throat, white ; neck and breast, 

 buff, with dark brown streaks ; abdomen, lighter ; vent and 

 under tail-coverts, whitish; irides, rich yellow, and large; 

 bill, light yellow at base, remainder black; legs and feet, 

 yellow. Length, about seventeen inches. (P. 299.) 



