Asian Bustard
Chlamydotis macqueenii (Gray, JE, 1832) (4, 0)
Photo © By Jiel Beaumadier (http://jiel.b.free.fr) - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34569425
STATUS
Central Palearctic. Monotypic.
OVERVIEW
Even though David Graham, taxidermist at York, who was involved and discredited over the "Tadcaster Rarities" fraud, was involved with the first record it has been allowed to stand after a review by the BOURC early in the 21st century.
All four individuals were found on the east coast in October.
RECORDS
1). 1847 Lincolnshire Kirton-in-Lindsey, adult male, shot, 7th October, now at Yorkshire Museum, York, photo.
(A. Roberts, Zoologist 1848: 1969, 2065; E. Newman, Zoologist 1848: 2146; W. M. E. Milner, Zoologist 1849: 2588-89; B. R. Morris, Morris and Bree's Naturalist 2: 89; Morris, 1851-57; Yarrell, 1856; Harting, 1872; Cordeaux, 1872; Yarrell, 1871-85; Witherby, 1920-24; Lorand & Atkin, 1989; Denton, 1995; G. J. Jobson & B. J. Small, British Birds 97: 68; BOURC (2004), Ibis 146: 192-195; T. Melling, British Birds 98: 230-237, plate 122).
History Alfred Roberts of Brigg (1848) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. VI. p. 1969, dated 7th December, 1847, says: 'A most beautiful male specimen of the Little Bustard was shot at Kirton Lindsey on 7th October last; its length from the tip of the beak to the end of the tail was twenty three inches; the expansion of its wings forty-four inches; its weight two pounds and a quarter; it has a splendid row of feathers down each side of the neck; its craw was filled with caterpillars of the Common Yellow Underwing moth, small shelled snails.'
Alfred Roberts (1848) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. VI. p. 2065, says: 'A short time ago I sent a communication to The Zoologist (Zool. 1969), to the effect that I had obtained a male Little Bustard, which was shot at Kirton Lindsey, in this neighbourhood; but having since become (better acquainted with the bustard family, I am convinced of my error, and beg leave to correct it.
The following is a description of the bird in my possession. Length 23 inches, expanse of wing 3 feet 8 inches, weight 2.25 lbs.; the bill is dark lead colour, compressed at the tip, depressed at the base; irides yellow; the head and throat rufous, mottled with black, with long loose feathers, of a slate colour, hanging over the breast; the chin white; back of the neck white, minutely mottled with brown; the sides of the neck are ornamented with a range of feathers two inches long, about two-thirds of the upper portion black, the lower-part white; the back and wing-coverts rufous, mottled with black, with zigzag bars of black across; the quill-feathers black, extending to the end of the tail when closed; under parts white; legs lead colour.
On inquiring of Mr. G. Hansley, from whom I received the bird, if he could furnish any particulars respecting it, he sent me the following note. "I shot the bird in a stubble field on Kirton Cliff. I did not see it until it got up within twenty yards of me, and I cannot hear of its having been seen in the neighbourhood before". I feel quite sure that this bird has never been confined: its wings and tail are in the greatest perfection, not a feather broken or dirty: its craw was full of caterpillars, beetles and small snails.'
[This bird has been purchased by Mr. T. E. Higgins, of York, and turns out to be the Houbara, a well-known North-African species of the bustard family.]
W. M. E. Milner of Nunappleton (1849) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. VII. pp. 2588-89, adds: 'I may, perhaps, be allowed to add, that this is now the third addition to the list of British Birds which has been made by the zeal and activity of Mr. Graham, the Larus Rossii and Otis McQueenii having first come into his hands.'
Beverley R. Morris, Editor (1852) in Morris and Bree's edition of The Naturalist, Vol. II. p. 89, says: 'We have been induced to give a coloured plate of this very interesting addition to the list of British birds, from there being, as far as we are aware, no figure of it except in Gould's expensive work, which is not accessible to many of our readers. The plate is taken from an admirable drawing made from the bird itself by Miss Barker, a young lady who kindly painted the bird for Mr. Graham, of York, to whom we are indebted for the loan of the picture.
The bird was shot at Kirton Lindsey, in Lincolnshire, on the 7th of October, 1847, by Mr. G. Hansley, who parted with it to Mr. Alfred Roberts, of Brigg, from whom it was purchased by E. T. Higgins, Esq., of York. The bird is now in the Rudston collection of British Birds, in the Museum of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society.
Description: - The bill is dark lead-colour, compressed at the tip, depressed at the base; irides, yellow; the head and throat, rufous, mottled with black, with long loose feathers of a slate colour, hanging over the breast. Chin, white; back of the neck, white, minutely mottled with brown; the sides of the neck are ornamented with a range of feathers two inches long, about two-thirds of the upper portion black, the lower part white. The back and wing coverts, rufous, mottled with black, with zigzag bars of black across; the quill feathers black, extending to the end of the tail when closed; under parts, white; legs, lead-colour. Length, twenty-three inches; expanse of wings, three feet eight inches; weight thirty-six ounces.
Although this is the only specimen of this Bustard that is known to have occurred in this country, yet its having evidently come as a voluntary visitor to our shores, gives it a decided claim to a place in the British list. The coloured figure which we now give, will enable any one readily to recognise the bird, should it ever come under his notice. Let us hope that if such an occurrence should take place, The Naturalist may be the medium of making the interesting fact known to the scientific world.'
Yarrell (1856: 34, 2nd supp.) says: 'A fine specimen, in the Museum of the Philosophical Society at York, having been shot by Mr. G. Hansley in a stubble-field at Kirton Cliff, Kirton-in-Lindsey, Lincolnshire, on the 7th of October, 1847. Further, p. 35, Yarrell adds: 'Its craw contained caterpillars of the Large Yellow Underwing moth, small shelled snails and beetles.'
Morris (1856 (5): 9) says: 'The only British, or, I believe, European specimen of this Bustard at present on record, was shot at Kirton in Lindsay, Lincolnshire, on the 7th of October, 1847, by Mr. George Hansley; it is now in the Rudston Read collection of British Birds in the York Museum, where I have seen it. A very excellent likeness, with an account of it, is given in The Naturalist, Vol. II. page 89, by my brother, Beverley R. Morris, Esq.'
Newman (1866: 25) says: 'Mr. G. R. Gray subsequently suggested that this bird had been brought with others from Africa by Mr. Fraser and allowed to escape - a suggestion which elicited the following [Edward Newman (Zoologist 1848: 2146)] "Further note on the Bustard shot in Lincolnshire. - Since the publication of the note (Zoologist 2065) a diligent inquiry has been instituted into the right of this bird to be admitted into our list, as a voluntary visitor of this kingdom; the result shows that not one of Mr. Fraser's birds had escaped, and therefore that the mode of accounting for its occurrence is fallacious; no evidence exists against the supposition that its passage hither was voluntary. I have just received from its owner, Mr. Higgins, who states that, on examination by Mr. Gould, the bird turns out to be Otis macqueenii, a native of Persia and western India".
Mr. Yarrell settled the question by subsequently publishing the description quoted above, and calling the bird Otis macqueenii.'
Cordeaux (1872: 86) adds: '...shot by Mr. G. Hanley.'
Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 221, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: '...shot by Mr. G. Hunsley.'
G. J. Jobson & B. J. Small (2004) in British Birds, Vol. XCVII. p. 68, say: 'Macqueen's Bustard has recently been admitted onto the British List after the acceptance of an individual collected at Kirton in Lindsey, Lincolnshire, on 7th October 1847 (BOURC 2004).'
Comment Many variations on the shooters name. Following the separation of C. macqueenii from C. undulata (Ibis 144: 707-710) the BOURC reviewed all the British records and found this still to be acceptable as the first British record.
Although admitting it was one of the "Tadcaster Rarities" the Committee could find no reason to doubt its authenticity (BOURC (2004), Ibis 146: 192-195).
2). 1892 Cleveland/Yorkshire Windy Hill Farm, near Redcar, Yorkshire, adult male, shot, 5th October, now at Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
(T. H. Nelson, Naturalist 18: 373; R. Howse, Naturalist 18: 373; T. H. Nelson, Field 17th Dec., 1892: 945; R. Howse, Zoologist 1893: 21-22; R. Howse, Transactions of the Natural History Society of Northumberland, Durham and Newcastle-upon-Tyne 1894: 345-350; Howse, 1899; Nelson, 1907; Witherby, 1920-24; Stead, 1964; Mather, 1986; Blick 2009: 205, photo).
History T. H. Nelson of Redcar (1892) in the new series of The Naturalist, Vol. XVIII. p. 373, dated 24th November, 1892, says: 'A very fine adult male of Otis macqueeni was shot, on the 5th October, between Redcar and Saltburn, and has, I understand, been purchased for the Newcastle Museum.
According to Mr. Howard Saunders, this is only the second instance of the occurrence of this rare Bustard in the British Isles - the first being in 1847 in Lincolnshire; it is therefore an addition to the Yorkshire list. I had the pleasure of seeing the bird in question, in the hands of the taxidermist, before it was sent to Newcastle.'
R. Howse, Curator of Newcastle Museum (1892) in the new series of The Naturalist, Vol. XVIII. p. 373, dated 25th November 1892, says: 'A very handsome specimen of Macqueen's Bustard (Otis macqueeni J. R. Gray) was shot on the sea-banks near Marske, on the N.E. coast of Yorkshire, 5th October last (1892). It was preserved by Mr. Pearce Coupe, who correctly identified it as being Macqueen's Bustard - a fine male in breeding plumage.
The specimen has been purchased for the Newcastle-on-Tyne Museum, where it will form an interesting addition to the other rarities in that collection. The other British-killed specimen, now in the York Museum, was shot on 7th October, 1892.'
T. H. Nelson of Redcar (1892) in The Field of 17th Dec., Vol. LXXX. p. 945, says: 'An adult male example of this rare Bustard (Otis macqueeni) was shot on Oct. 5 last, between Redcar and Saltburn-by-the-Sea, and has, I understand, been purchased by the authorities of the Newcastle Museum. This is only the second recorded instance of the occurrence of this bird in England, the first having been procured in 1847, in Lincolnshire.'
R. Howse of Newcastle Museum (1893) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XVII. pp. 21-22, says: 'It will interest your readers to know that a fine specimen of Macqueen's Bustard, Otis macqueeni, J. E. Gray, was shot near Marske, on the north-east coast of Yorkshire, on the 5th October last.
When first observed, it was walking about in a large, bare pasture field near the edge of the sea-bank, about 100 ft. above the level of the sea. It was a very misty day, and the bird when approached squatted like a game-bird, and seemed unwilling to rise. It was evidently very tired, but on a nearer approach it rose straight up in the air, and was easily shot.
It was sent to Mr. Pearce Coupe to be preserved, and he identified it as Macqueen's Bustard, and afterwards ascertained it to be a male, which is fully proved by its size and handsome ruff. It has been purchased for, and is now in, the Museum at Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
The bones of the body have also been preserved and presented to the Museum by Mr. Coupe, who reports that he ate part of the flesh and found it savoury, but somewhat tough. The bird is in handsome (breeding ?) plumage, the tail delicately barred, and the crest not quite so large as in the figure in Yarrell's (4th ed. Vol. III. p. 221).
It is a curious coincidence that the only other British-killed specimen on record was shot at the same time of year - namely, on the 7th October, 1847.'
Howse (1899: 68) in his Index-Catalogue of the Birds in the Hancock Collection, says: 'Case 3. No. 1 (left). Male. Shot near Marske-by-the-Sea, Yorkshire, Oct. 5th, 1892, by Mr. Richardson. Purchased for the Museum per Mr. Pearce Coupe by Rd. Howse, Nov., 1892. Restuffed by J. Jackson. Remark. - This bird was shot on the Yorkshire Coast near Marske-by-the-Sea by Mr. Richardson, about 12 o'clock, Oct. 5th, 1892, in a grass field, where it was feeding on grass. It was sent at once to Mr. Pearce Coupe, who correctly identified it as Macqueen's Bustard, to be preserved. After it was skinned the body was cooked and eaten by Mr. Coupe and friend.
The bones taken out were carefully cleaned and afterwards presented to this Museum by Mr. Coupe. The bird was slightly in the moult. After it was purchased the bird was unstuffed and the skin carefully cleaned and restuffed by John Jackson.
This is the second recorded specimen that has been killed in England. See Nat. Hist. Trans., Northd., Durham, etc., Vol. XI. p. 345. Richard Howse.'
Nelson (1907 (2): 559) says: 'The second British, and first Yorkshire occurrence refers to a male example obtained at Marske-by-the-Sea, within sight of the room where these lines are being written. It was first observed on 5th October 1892, by some boys, in a field at Windy Hill Farm, near the coast, and was so fearless that it took little notice of several stones thrown at it.
Information was then sent to a man named Richardson, who brought a gun, and, as the bird rose, killed it at close range, damaging it badly on one side. It was taken to Pearce Coupe, taxidermist, of Marske, for identification, and he at once communicated with the authorities of Newcastle Museum, by whom it was eventually purchased.
I had an opportunity of examining it before it was forwarded to Newcastle, and have since been favoured by the late curator, Mr. House, with particulars and dimensions of the specimen. It had apparently been feeding, a few grass seeds being found in its crop and also in the throat and beak.'
3). 1896 Yorkshire Kilnsea, immature male, shot, 17th October.
(H. F. Witherby, Knowledge & Scientific News 19: 251; J. Cordeaux, Naturalist 22: 323-324; J. Cordeaux, Zoologist 1896: 433-434; Eds., Ibis 1897: 142-143; Cordeaux, 1899; Nelson, 1907; Witherby, 1920-24; Mather, 1986).
History H. F. Witherby (1896) in Knowledge & Scientific News, Vol. XIX. pp. 251-252, says: 'On October 17th I was walking along the sea-bank at Easington, Yorkshire, in company with Mr. Eagle Clarke, the well-known ornithologist, and Mr. Bendelack Hewetson, Jun. We all at once noticed a large bird flying low over the fields like an owl, and being pursued by small birds. It skimmed across a high bank and went down in a field beyond. We immediately followed it, and on arriving at the bank crept up to the top and cautiously looked over. There, in the middle of a stubble field, about one hundred and twenty yards from us, was what we took to be a Great Bustard.
We lay down and watched it with our field glasses. It seemed quite at home, and behaved perfectly naturally. It strutted about with a stately gait somewhat like a Peacock, and pecked at the ground here and there in an almost disdainful way. Then it began to dust itself, drawing in its head and ruffling its feathers, and spreading wings and tail. We watched it closely for quite ten minutes, and were fascinated by its interesting ways, probably never observed in England by ornithologists before, for this grand bird was a Macqueen's Bustard, and only the third example which has visited our shores.
Meanwhile two men had come on the scene with guns, and after a little manoeuvering George Edwin Chubbley [sic] shot the bird as his brother Craggs Chubbley [sic] put it over to him. Whilst being followed it never seemed flurried.
When flying, the wings of the bird were a striking black and white. The long black tufts on the sides of the neck appeared as black streaks at a distance, and were very conspicuous as the bird stood in the field.
Macqueen's Bustard is a desert-loving species inhabiting the steppes of Asia, and why it visits us at all is merely a matter of conjecture, but probably certain young birds wander far from their course and thus manage to reach our coasts.
When the feathers of the bird were turned up we found them to be of a delicate blush pink at the base, contrasting beautifully with the speckled sandy colour of the bird's back. The beak is brownish black, the legs and feet light straw colour, and the eyes very pale straw and very bright.
The length from beak to tail is twenty-eight and a half inches, the tarsus four and a half inches, and the flexure sixteen inches.
The bird was a young male, and its stomach contained vegetable matter and three beetles.
Mr. J. Cordeaux and Mr. H. Bendelack Hewetson, M.R.C.S., arrived on the scene a few minutes after the bird was shot.'
John Cordeaux of Great Cotes (1896) in the new series of The Naturalist, Vol. XXII. pp. 323-324, in the November 1896 issue, says: 'On October 17th a remarkable fine example of this Eastern Bustard (Otis macqueeni J. E. Gray), a resident in the Aralo-Caspian region, was seen in a vetch-stubble behind the warren house at Kilnsea. It was shot at by Colonel White and flew off apparently uninjured. On the next day it was killed by Mr. G. E. Clubley, of Kilnsea, in a wheat-stubble in Easington.
Mr. W. Eagle Clarke was out for a walk with Mr. Harry F. Witherby, was fortunate in being able to watch the bird for a quarter of an hour, at the distance of 150 yards, through a powerful binocular. He says it looked on the wing very much like a large owl, and flew low and slow, just skimming the ground. It was pursued by small birds, and the grey Crows hovered over it, marking the place where it alighted, beyond a high bank. Its colour on the wing appeared isabelline and very contrasting black and white in wing. In walking it carried its head and neck like a feeding Pheasant, moving in a stately fashion, but not with head erect. The long black feathers on the side of the neck were conspicuous.
When first fired at it rose and flew very leisurely 100 yards and alighted. When under observation it was either feeding or washing and preening itself. Mr. H. B. Hewetson, of Leeds, and myself saw the bird a few minutes after it was killed, when I took the following notes: - Length, 28½ inches; flexure, 16; tarsi, 4½; iris very light-straw yellow; tarsi and feet very nearly the same colour; perhaps a little darker; bill slaty, base of lower mandible yellow, palate black, tongue whitish, weight 3lbs. 11 oz. The feathers on the scapulars and nape are shaded cinnamon and buff, vermiculated, and show very conspicuous broken bands of black on each, one on the latter and two or three on the former. The three bars on the tail are slaty black, tips of the feathers white. The base of the feathers on the back and breast, for nearly a fourth of their length, are a beautiful salmon pink, also the down.
An example of Macqueen's Bustard was shot in October 1847, on the Wold, near Kirton-in-Lindsey, Lincolnshire, and another in October 1892, at Marske, North-East Yorkshire. Altogether three examples in England, all on the east coast. On dissection it proved to be a male, and the crest, also on examination of the bones, showed it was a young bird. The stomach was filled with vegetable matter, chiefly the heads of ragwort, and remains of a few beetles of the genus Carabus.'
John Cordeaux of Great Cotes (1896) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XX. pp. 433-434, after quoting the same story, adds: 'Mr. Clarke and I dined off the body; the flesh was very dark and tender, and we came to the conclusion it tasted like Wild Goose with a savour of Grouse....The bird is at present in possession of Mr. Philip Loten, of Easington, by whom it has been admirably set up.'
Cordeaux (1899: 28) says: 'On October 18th, 1896, one, an immature male, at Kilnsea, Holderness, in Colonel White's collection, Hedon (Zool., 1896, p. 433-434).'
Accepted locally by Nelson (1907 (2): 560) who adds: 'This specimen is now in the possession of Col. White of Hedon.'
4). 1898 North-east Scotland St Fergus, Aberdeenshire, immature female, shot, 24th October.
(W. E. Clarke, Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh 14: 162-163; J. G. Walker, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1899: 51; W. E. Clarke, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1899: 73-74; R. Bowdler Sharpe, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 8: 36; Sim, 1903; Witherby, 1920-24; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Phillips, 1997).
History Wm. Eagle Clarke (1901) in the Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh, Vol. XIV. pp. 162-163, read 15th Feb., 1899 with the specimen exhibited, says: 'The Asiatic Houbara, or Macqueen's Bustard, is a new and interesting addition to the fauna of northern Britain.
We have to thank Mr. J. Gr. Walker, the owner and captor of the bird, for allowing this first Scottish specimen to be exhibited at the meeting of the Royal Physical Society this evening. On the 24th of October last, when partridge shooting at St Fergus - part of the Pitfour estate, in Aberdeenshire - Mr. Walker obtained this bird, which was at the time thought to be a Little Bustard (Otis tetrax). When first seen it was in a turnip field. It got up out of range, and flew slowly, as if wounded. The bird was pursued and eventually secured. On being skinned, a swan shot was found embedded in its thigh. Some doubt having arisen as to the identity of this bird, Mr. Walker submitted the specimen to me for determination, and I have pleasure in confirming that gentleman's surmise that the bird is undoubtedly an example of Houbara macqueenii.
It is a young female, but whether about four months or sixteen months old is, perhaps, questionable, since, as in many other cases, nothing appears to be on record concerning the stages through which this species passes ere full plumage is assumed, or even the age at which the plumes of adolescence give place to those of maturity. The specimen under consideration, however, has a slight crest, a moderately developed ruff on the sides of the neck, and some show of bluish-grey on the sides of the chest.
It is the fourth British example of an Eastern species, which, as its name implies, is not even a native of Europe - its nearest haunts being in Persia, whence it spreads eastwards through the Aralo-Caspian region and Beluchistan to Northern and Western India.
This fine Bustard is thus a remarkable example of those erratic wanderers, not a few of which, from time to time, appear in Britain, chiefly in the autumn months. It is worthy of note that all the specimens of this Houbara which have been known to visit our shores have been obtained in the vicinity of the East Coast, and all of them in the month of October.
The following are the previous British records: - One (presumably a female, from the dimensions given), Kirton Lindsay, Lincolnshire, obtained on 7th October 1847 (Zoologist, 1848, pp. 1969, 2065, 2146). First recorded as a Little Bustard. A male, Marske, north-east coast of Yorkshire, 5th October 1892 (Zoologist, 1893, p. 21). A young male, near Spurn Head, Yorkshire coast, 17th October 1896 (Zoologist, 1896, p. 433). I had the pleasure of seeing this specimen, both on the wing and while feeding, just before it was obtained.
The Asiatic Houbara has occurred in several European countries, but everywhere as a rare and accidental visitor. There is no evidence that it is a migratory species, unless, indeed, its visits to Northern India, in the winter, from adjoining regions can be regarded as affording evidence of the migratory habit.
It is somewhat remarkable that the only other member of the genus, the African Houbara (H. undulata), which inhabits Northern Africa and the Canary Islands, thus occurring as near to us as Algeria, has not yet been known to visit our islands, though it occasionally crosses the Mediterranean, to appear as a wanderer in the countries of Southern Europe.'
J. G. Walker of West London (1899) in the Annals of Scottish Natural History, Vol. VIII. p. 51, under 'Little Bustard in Aberdeenshire', says: 'On the 24th of October last [1898], when out shooting partridges at St. Fergus - part of the Pitfour estate in Aberdeenshire - I shot a bird which the Pitfour keeper and Mr. Sim the Aberdeen naturalist have pronounced to be a Little Bustard [sic] (Otis tetrax). The bird was first seen in a turnip-field. It got up out of shot, and flew with a slow, leisurely flight. It seemed to be weak, as if wounded. I went after the bird and secured it. Mr. Mutch, the keeper, when skinning it found a swan-shot embedded in its thigh. It may be mentioned that for about ten days before, N.E. gales of unusual severity had prevailed on this coast.'
William Eagle Clarke (1899) in the Annals of Scottish Natural History, pp. 73-74, says: 'Some doubt as to the identity of the bird recorded as a Little Bustard in the last number of this magazine having arisen, Mr. Walker, the owner of the specimen, kindly submitted it to me for determination. I found, as Mr. Walker suspected, that the bird was undoubtedly an example of the Asiatic Houbara, or Macqueen's Bustard. It is a young female, but whether about four months old or sixteen months is, perhaps, questionable...the specimen under consideration has an incipient crest, a moderately developed ruff on the sides of the neck, and some show of bluish-grey on the sides of the chest....Lastly, we have the Scottish female bird, which, like the one first obtained in Britain, has had the misfortune to be recorded as a Little Bustard.
In connection with the unfortunate circumstance to which allusion has just been made, it is only right to say that Mr. Sim of Aberdeen, whose name has been mentioned in connection with the identification of the specimen, writes to us to say that he never saw the bird, but that it was reported to him by the keeper, who showed him one of the feathers, and gave a general description as to size, etc.; and from this evidence, and from details Mr. Walker afforded him, Mr. Sim came to the conclusion that it would be a Little Bustard. Mr. Sim had intended to examine the specimen, but had not had an opportunity of so doing....By the permission of Mr. Walker, I exhibited this interesting bird at the meeting of the Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh, on the 15th February last.'
R. Bowdler Sharpe, Editor (1899) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. VIII. p. 36, at the 59th Meeting of the Club held on 15th February 1899 at the Restaurant Frascati, London, says: 'Mr. W. Eagle Clarke sent a communication, as follows: - A Bustard was obtained at St. Fergus, on the Pitfour estate, Aberdeenshire, on the 24th of October last, and Mr. J. G. Walker, who shot and owns the specimen, has recently submitted it to me for identification. I found it, as Mr. Walker suspected, to be an example of the Asiatic Houbara macqueeni, and a female in immature plumage.
This is the fourth British and first Scottish specimen, and it is the only female that has wandered as far west as Great Britain. The bird was unfortunately recorded by Mr. Walker as a "Little" Bustard in the Annals of Scottish Natural History for January (p. 51). A similar fate befell the first English specimen (Zool., [1848] p. 1969).'
The specimen was exhibited at a meeting of the Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh on 15th February 1899 by W. E. Clarke (Proc. Roy. Phys. Soc., 1899, XIV. pp. 162-163). But, Sim (1903: 166) erroneously stated that it was a "male".
Comment The whereabouts of this specimen is unknown, apart from saying that it is not in the National Museums of Scotland (Edinburgh) or the Natural History Museum (Tring) (R. Y. McGowan, pers. comm.).
NOT PROVEN
0). 1823 Suffolk Harwich, shot, undated.
(J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1875: 4763; J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1875: 4800).
[BOU, 1971].
History J. H. Gurney, jun. (1875) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. X. p. 4763, says: 'Let me give a word of caution about a supposed British-killed Macqueen's Bustard, which has found its way into Norfolk, duly labelled and handsomely cased, which, if not noticed and corrected now, is sure in a few years time to pass current as a genuine "Britisher", like many other birds which I could name, on the strength of a ticket. I saw the specimen in question last Tuesday, at the house of Mr. Gunn, and instantly recollected that I had seen it before, viz., at the Argyll Street Auction Rooms in London, in 1871, where it was sold as - "Lot 689. A Macqueen's Bustard, shot at Harwich, 1823, and preserved by Hall, of Finsbury Square". I then "spotted" it as being the same one which was in Martin Barry's catalogue, where, to give an air of probability, we have the additional information that it was "obtained in company with a Little Bustard", i.e. the specimen formerly in Mr. Yarrell's, and knew that if it came out of that collection its authenticity was worthless.
Several severe criticisms on the Barry catalogues - which are supposed to have been compiled from his note-books after his death - will be found in the Ibis for 1863. They contain all sorts of unheard of rarities, which I will not give further publicity to: but any who wish to read them will find several of the grossest at p. 477 of the Ibis for 1863.'
J. H. Gurney, jun. (1876) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. XI. p. 4800, adds: 'I beg to inform all readers of The Zoologist that nothing was farther from my intention that to say or infer that our able, excellent and conscientious naturalist at Norwich, Mr. T. E. Gunn, was capable of trying to pass of the Macqueen's Bustard as British, knowing the same to be foreign.
Mr. Gunn received it to re-stuff; it was not in his hands for sale; and his first remarks when I saw it was that he believed it had been mounted from a skin.
I have made a somewhat special study of what are termed doubtful British birds, and I know what mischief may be done by leaving such a pretender as this unchallenged and uncorrected.'
Comment Imported. Not acceptable.
