BIRDS 347 



detached from one of the main flocks chances to wander westward 

 on the vernal passage of the species to its breeding-grounds in 

 the north of Europe. In the spring of 1 8 6 9 a solitary Crane made 

 its appearance in the neighbourhood of Allonby. It frequented 

 some rough meadow lands in the neighbourhood of the Solway 

 Firth. Its presence awakened a keen interest among the local 

 sportsmen, each and all of whom were anxious to obtain the 

 distinguished stranger. Mr. Matthew and Mr. Thomas Mann 

 fired two shots at the coveted prize, but only succeeded in 

 knocking some grey feathers out of the bird. This was on the 

 29 th of April. 



Order A LEGTO RIDES. Fam. TIBIDJE. 



GREAT BUSTAED. 



Otis tarda, L. 



Although we might reasonably have expected that the Great 

 Bustard at one time coursed over the lower fells of eastern 

 Lakeland no less than the Yorkshire wolds, there is absolutely 

 no evidence for any such hypothesis. In the spring of 1854 a 

 female Great Bustard was shot in a turnip-field at Leeshill in 

 the parish of Lanercost. The bird was killed on the 8th of 

 March. 1 The late Mr. John Hancock saw this specimen ' a few 

 days after it was stuffed, and while it was soft and flexible, and 

 the legs were unfaded ; the tarsi and toes were greyish, with 

 obscure flesh colour between the scales.' 2 The bird was in good 

 condition and weighed 11 lbs. At the time it entered the 

 possession of Joseph Mowbray, a Brampton innkeeper. Many 

 years later it found its way into the Newcastle museum. 



Order LIMIGOLJE. Fam. GLAREOLIDjE. 



COLLARED PRATINCOLE. 



Glareola pratincola, L. 

 One of the first specimens of this Pratincole ever obtained in 

 the British Islands was shot in the year 1807 in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the Solway at Bowness, as recorded by Graves in 



1 Zoologist, 1854, p. 4407. 



2 Cat. ofB. ofN. and D. p. 95. 



