OTINJ3. CURSORIUS. 41 



GENUS LXXXVI. CURSORIUS. COURSER. 



The species which constitute this genus are of small size 

 and slender form, with the neck rather short, the head ob- 

 long, and little elevated in front. Bill somewhat shorter 

 than the head, slender, tapering, nearly straight or a little 

 arched, somewhat broader than high at the base, compressed 

 toward the end ; upper mandible with the dorsal line straight 

 for two-thirds of its length, then arcuato-declinate, the ridge 

 somewhat carinate, the edges sharp, the tip acute, without 

 notch ; lower mandible with the angle long and narrow, the 

 dorsal line decurved, the edges sharp, the tip narrow, but 

 rather blunt. Tongue slender, emarginate and papillate at 

 the base, flattened above, with a medial groove, the tip thin, 

 narrow, but obtuse. Nostrils subbasal, lateral, oblong, in 

 the fore part of the rather short sinus. Eyes of moderate 

 size. Aperture of ear rather large. Legs long, slender ; 

 tibia bare for a third, scutellate before, with two rows of 

 scales behind ; tarsus slender, compressed, anteriorly scutel- 

 late ; hind toe wanting ; anterior toes short, the fourth much 

 longer than the second, all scutellate above, the middle and 

 outer connected by a narrow basal membrane ; claws small, 

 slender, little arched, acute, that of the middle toe with a 

 dilated inner edge. Plumage moderate, soft, blended ; wings 

 long, narrow, acute, the first and second quills about equal, 

 the inner secondaries much elongated ; tail short or mode- 

 rate, slightly rounded or even, of twelve obtuse feathers. 



The Coursers belong to the warmer regions of the Old 

 Continent, inhabiting chiefly the sandy deserts. They run 

 with extreme celerity, and have a rapid flight. Small as 

 they are, they seem more allied in form to the Bustards than 

 the Plovers. A very few individuals of a single species have 

 been met with in England. 



164. CURSORIUS ISABELLINUS, CREAM-COLOURED COURSER. 



Adult with the bill black, the feet yellowish ; the plumage 

 pale brownish-yellow, lighter on the lower parts ; the fore 

 part of the head reddish, the hind part grey, with a triangular 

 black spot on the nape ; two bands, a white and a black, from 



