Cream-coloured Courser

Cursorius cursor (Latham, 1787) (28, 0)

Photo © Matthew K Naylor, St Mary’s Golf Course, Isles of Scilly, October 2004

STATUS

Palearctic. Polytypic.

OVERVIEW

All records as per BOU (1971) except the three seen together (very suspicious) in Clyde during October 1949 which are not mentioned. The details regarding this record are very meagre. However, Forrester & Andrews et al. (2007) regarded it as acceptable in their Birds of Scotland.

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RECORDS

1). 1785 Kent Near Wingham, immature, shot, autumn.

(Latham, 1787; G. Fox, Zoological Journal 3: 493; Jenyns, 1835; G. Fox, Wood's Naturalist 1837: 133; J. Pemberton Bartlett, Zoologist 1844: 623; Yarrell, 1845; Newman, 1866; Stevenson, 1866; Harting, 1872; Yarrell, 1871-85; Babington, 1884-86; Ticehurst, 1909; Gurney, 1921; Harrison, 1953).

History Latham (1787: 254, 1st supp.) to his General Synopsis of Birds, plate cxvi, says: 'A bird of this curious and singular species was shot near St. Albans, in east Kent, the seat of William Hammond, Esq., who presented it to me with the following account. He first met with it, running upon some light land; and so little fearful was it, that after he had sent for a gun, one was brought to him, which having been charged some time, did not readily go off, and in consequence he missed his aim. The report frightened the bird away; but after making a turn or two, it again settled within a hundred yards of him, when he was prepared with a second shot, which despatched it. It was observed to run with incredible swiftness, and, at intervals, to pick up something from the ground; and was so bold as to render it difficult to make it rise from the ground, in order to take a more secure aim on the wing. The note was not like that of any kind of Plover's, nor, indeed, to be compared with that of any known bird.'

Montagu (1802) says: 'Another was killed near St Alban's in Kent, at the seat of William Hammond Esq., who presented it to Dr. Latham, in whose instructive museum we saw it, and who has given a figure of it in the Supplement to his Synopsis. In this specimen the markings about the head do not appear to be so conspicuous....The shape of the bill in this species seems to divide it from the Plovers, although it has no back-toe like that genus.'

Jenyns (1835: 176) says: 'The first of these was shot near St. Albans, in Kent, many years back.'

J. Pemberton Bartlett (1844) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. III. pp. 623-624, says: 'One of the three taken in England, was shot within five miles of this place, by the late W. Hammond, Esq., of St. Albans, and from whose son, the present proprietor of St. Albans, I received the following account: While walking over a ploughed field, Mr. H. observed this bird; it was perfectly fearless of his approach, and he sent to a cottage, not far distant, and obtained a rook gun, which however being fired, he missed it. The noise made the bird rise, but after making two or three circles in the air, it again alighted within hundred yards of him. Although some time elapsed before he could obtain another gun, yet so bold was the bird that it continued running with great swiftness, occasionally picking up something from the ground, till the gun arrived, when it was shot without difficulty.'

Harting (1872: 131) adds: 'In the British Museum.'

Howard Saunders (1882-84) in Yarrell's British Birds, 4th ed. Vol. III. p. 239, says: 'This example, which the plate shows to be an immature bird, passed into the Leverian Museum, and having been purchased by Donovan for 83 guineas (see Zool. Journ. III. p. 493, and Naturalist, 1837, Vol. I. p. 133), it found its way to the British Museum.' Further, in a footnote, Saunders adds: 'The date is not mentioned, but from the tenor of Latham's letter, dated 12th December, 1785, acknowledging the gift (communicated to Mr. Gould by Mr. W. O. Hammond, the grandson of the donor), it would appear that the bird was killed a short time previously.'

Ticehurst (1909: 414) says: 'It is still exhibited at South Kensington in the British Bird Gallery, where I find that it is fairly good condition and easily recognisable, from its peculiarly upright attitude and attenuated form as the original subject of Latham's plate, which is here reproduced.'

Gurney (1921: 29) in Early Annals of Ornithology lists this first record for Britain as occurring in 1785 (Latham).

Harrison (1953 (1): 405) adds: '...the specimen apparently passed from Latham into the Leverian Museum until the contents were dispersed by auction in 1806. The bird was then purchased by Fichtel and narrowly escaped finding its way to Vienna for the Emperor Francis I. It was instead purchased by one Donovan for eighty-three guineas. Finally it passed into the British Museum, but suffered during the blitz.'

2). 1793 County unknown Locality in north Wales, shot, undated.

(Fleming, 1828; S. Palmer (1837) Maund & Holl's Naturalist 1: 1-3; Yarrell, 1845; Yarrell, 1871-85; Dobie, 1893; Forrest, 1907; Lovegrove, Williams & Williams, 1994).

History Fleming (1828: 112) says: 'The second was shot in North Wales in 1793, by Mr. George Kingston of Queen's College, Oxford.'

Palmer (1837) in Maund & Holl's Naturalist, Vol. I. p. 3, says: '....Three instances of its capture in our own island have only yet been recorded. The first specimen was shot in Kent, and sent to Dr. Latham: the second, killed in Wales, found its way into the collection of the late Professor Sibthorpe, of Oxford: the third and last, discovered at Charnwood Forest, Leicestershire, is in the possession of the Rev. Thomas Gisborne, of Yoxall Lodge; a man equally distinguished by his eloquence as a Christian minister, and by his talents as a naturalist and a poet...'

Yarrell (1845 (2): 433, 2nd ed.) says: 'Dr. Fleming, in his British Animals, records one that was shot in North Wales in 1793 by Mr. George Kingston, of Queen's College, Oxford.'

Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 239, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'The next [second] instance is that of the bird mentioned by Montagu (Supp. Orn. Dict.) as having been shot in North Wales in 1793, by Mr. George Kingston of Queen's College, Oxford, and preserved in the collection of the late Professor Sibthorp of that city.'

Forrest (1907: 324) says: 'Col. Montagu, in his Ornithological Dictionary, writes: - "We are assured by Mr. Dickinson that a specimen of this very rare bird was shot by Mr. George Kingstone of Queen's College, Oxford, a very accurate ornithologist. The bird was preserved in the collection of the late Professor Sibthorp".'

Dobie (1893: 333) places the record in square brackets.

3). 1827 Leicestershire & Rutland Timberwood Hill, Charnwood Forest, shot, 15th October, now at Leicester Museum (L.Z458.1968.1.0).

(G. T. Fox, Zoological Journal 3: 492-493; Selby, 1833; Jenyns, 1835; Yarrell, 1845; Bewick, 1847; Newman, 1866; Yarrell, 1871-85; M. Browne, Zoologist 1886: 326-327; Browne, 1889; Hickling, 1978).

History G. T. Fox (1828) in the Zoological Journal, Vol. III. pp. 492-493, says: 'The capture of this bird may be considered as one of the rarest which has occurred in England of late years. It was shot October 15, 1827, under Timberwood Hill, in Charnwood Forest, Leicestershire, by a tenant of Mr. T. Gisborne's, who resides at Charley Mill, near that place. He described it as coming flying over his head, uttering a cry with which he was unacquainted, and it settled near him.

Its colour is nearly all light buff or nankin, except the primaries, which are dark brown. There are a few dark spots on the lateral feathers of the tail near the end, but not black with the white spot as described by Temminck. The back and tail coverts have also zigzag darker lines. A white stripe, enclosed in a black span, extends on each side from above the eyes to the nape. Its length is ten inches, and its bill which is dark coloured is a good deal curved in both mandibles, the lower of which is about half an inch shorter than the upper. The thighs are fleshy but rather bare of feathers, and its legs are long and scaly. Its toes, which are only three, a circumstance that occasioned Latham to arrange it with the Plovers, are slightly edged inwardly with a membrane which connects the outer to the middle, and forms the rudiment of a web. The middle toe is nearly twice the length of the others.

This rare subject is at present the property of Mr. Gisborne's father, the Rev. T. Gisborne, F.L.S., of Yoxall Lodge, Staffordshire, to whose ornithological taste his son knew the possession of it would be a subject of congratulation. He has liberally furnished the use of it to Mr. Selby and Mr. Bewick, for the purpose of engraving figures of it for their works on British Ornithology.

I scarcely need to remind your readers that only three specimens of this Abyssinian Bird are on record as having been taken in Europe, viz. one in France, which furnished Buffon's description and the figure in the Planches Enluminees; one in Austria (see Stephens's Gen. Zoology); and a third in England, which belonged to Dr. Latham, and which was afterwards purchased for eighty-three guineas. M. Temminck however hints at a fourth, a young bird, in the Darmstadt Museum.'

Selby (1833 (2): 217-219) says: 'Since the publication of the First Part of the present work, an instance has fortunately occurred of the Cream-coloured Swiftfoot having been killed near Timberwood Hill, in Charnwood Forest, Leicestershire, in October 1827. This beautiful specimen, now in the possession of the Rev. T. Gisborne, of Yoxall Lodge, Staffordshire, was kindly lent to me for the purpose of enriching these Illustrations; and I have thus been enabled to give a correct figure of this bird in the Second Series, in the situation that it properly holds in the systematic arrangement now adopted. It is one of our rarest visitants, the above being, as far as I can collect, the third instance only of its appearance in Britain. Of the two prior specimens, one was shot in Kent, near the seat of William Hammond, Esq. and was sent to Dr. Latham (This specimen found its way into the Leverian Museum, at the sale of which it was purchased by Fichtel, who afterwards disposed of it to Donovan for the sum of eighty-three guineas.

It is now deposited in the British Museum); and, as the following account which accompanied it is particularly interesting, as being descriptive of its manners, I make no apology for transcribing it: "It was first met with running upon some light land, and so little fearful was it, that, after having sent for a gun, one was brought to him, which did not readily go off, having been charged some time, and in consequence missed his aim. The report frightened the bird away, but, after making a turn or two, it again settled within a hundred yards of him, when he was prepared with a second shot, which dispatched it. It was observed to run with incredible swiftness, and at intervals to pick up something from the ground, and was so bold as to render it difficult to make it rise from the ground, in order to take a more secure aim on the wing. The note was not like any kind of Plovers, nor indeed to be compared with that of any known bird".

The other specimen is mentioned by Montagu, as having been killed in Wales, and was afterwards in the collection of the late Professor Sibthorp, of Oxford.

Africa is the native region of this species, particularly the northern and western parts of that secluded country, where it inhabits the extensive plains of the desert....Plate 33 represents this bird of the natural size, from the specimen above alluded to. "Bill three quarters of an inch long, black, and arched towards the tip. Irides pale yellowish-grey. Forehead and crown of the head pale buff-orange, passing towards the occiput into ash-grey: below which, backwards, is a triangular spot of black. Over each eye, and passing round the hind part of the head (below the black spot) is a band of pure white. From the posterior angle of the eye is a streak of black. Throat and chin pale reddish-white. The whole of the body sienna-yellow, tinged with ash-grey, palest beneath. Greater quills brownish-black; outer tail-feathers having a small dusky spot near their tips. Legs long, with the tibiae naked for an inch above the tarsal joint. Toes short; the outer united to the middle toe by a rather broad membrane, the inner toe by a smaller one. Claw of the middle toe pectinated; a peculiarity belonging also to all the other species".'

Jenyns (1835: 176) says: 'The second was killed in October, 1827, at Charnwood Forest, Leicestershire.' Churchill Babington under 'Ornithology of Charnwood Forest' in Potter (1842) p. 69, of the Appendix, says: 'The third and last specimen found in Britain, was killed near Timberwood Hill, October, 1827. It is in the collection of the Rev. Thomas Gisborne, of Yoxall Lodge, and was lent by him to Mr. Selby, for whose splendid work it was engraved (The extreme rarity of the bird may justify me in copying the description given of this specimen by Mr. Selby, in his Illustrations of British Ornithology, Vol. II. p. 219.)....The specimen which was first found in Britain was sold to Donovan, for 83 guineas, and is now in the British Museum. Only two other individuals of the species have ever been found on the continent of Europe; one in Austria, the other in France. A native of the northern and western parts of Africa. In shape much like the Lapwing, but smaller by one-third.'

Yarrell (1845 (2): 433-434, 2nd ed.) says: 'A fourth example is recorded by George T. Fox Esq., of Durham, in the third volume of the Zoological Journal, page 492. "This bird was shot on the 15th of October, 1827, under Timberwood Hill, in Charnwood Forest, Leicestershire, by a tenant of Mr. T. Gisborne who resides at Charley Mill, near that place. He described it as coming flying over his head, uttering a cry with which he was unacquainted, and it settled near him. This rare subject is the property of the Rev. T. Gisborne, F.L.S. of Yoxall Lodge, Staffordshire, to whose ornithological taste his son knew the possession of it would be a subject of congratulation. He liberally furnished the use of it to Mr. Selby and Mr. Bewick; and I am indebted to the kindness of George C. Atkinson, Esq. of Newcastle, for a proof of this subject, sent me with a copy of his Sketch of the Life and Works of the distinguished artist.'

Bewick (1847 (1): 374, 8th ed.) says: 'The stuffed specimen, from which the foregoing figure was made, was obligingly lent to this work by the late Rev. T. Gisborne, A. M., Prebendary of Durham, and was reported to him as having been shot in Charnwood Forest, Lincolnshire [sic], on the 15th of October, 1827.'

Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 239, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, in a footnote, adds: 'A coloured figure of this specimen is given in the Appendix to Potter's History of Charnwood Forest (1842).'

Montagu Browne (1886) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. X. pp. 326-327, says: 'This rare bird is figured in Potter's History of Charnwood Forest, from a specimen in the possession of the Rev. T. Gisborne, of Yoxall Lodge, Staffordshire, procured near Timberwood Hill, Charnwood Forest, in October, 1827. The same specimen has been figured by Bewick and Selby. Anxious, if possible, to obtain some particulars of so rare a bird, Harley wrote to the late Mr. Gisborne, author of Walks in a Forest, in whose possession it was known to be, and received the following reply: - "Yoxall Lodge, Needwood Forest, July 4, 1840. The example of Cursorius isabellinus, respecting which you enquire, was shot on Charnwood Forest, near Timberwood Hill, in October, 1827, by a tenant of my eldest son. The tenant met my son accidentally directly afterwards, and showed and gave the bird to him as an unknown curiosity; and my son, who was on his way to this neighbourhood, brought it forward to me".'

Accepted locally (Browne 1889: 147).

4). 1828 Suffolk Friston, shot, 3rd October, now at Saffron Walden Museum.

(E. Acton, Loudon's Magazine of Natural History 4: 163; Jenyns, 1835; C. R. Bree, Field 7th Dec., 1867: 465; Stevenson, 1870; Babington, 1884-86; P. R. Lowe, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 44: 93; Ticehurst, 1932).

History Edward Acton of Grundisburgh (1831) in Loudon's Magazine of Natural History, Vol. IV. p. 163, dated 29th November, 1830, says: 'Shot at Freston [sic], near Aldborough [sic], on Oct. 3. 1828, by a shepherd of the name of Smith.' Jenyns (1835) p. 176, says: 'the third in the year following [the second record, 1827], at Freston [sic], near Aldeburgh, in Suffolk.'

C. R. Bree of Colchester (1867) in The Field of 7th Dec., Vol. XXX. p. 465, says: 'The next bird worthy of note in Mr. Hoy's collection is a specimen of that rare British bird the Cream-coloured Courser, which was labelled on the case, and so copied into the MS. catalogue, "Shot in 1828". I have no doubt whatever that this is the bird recorded in the Magazine of Natural History, Vol. IV. 1831, p. 163, by Mr. Acton, of Grundisburgh, as having been "shot at Freston [sic], near Aldeborough [sic], on Oct. 3, 1828, by a shepherd of the name of Smith". This bird, though not mentioned by Yarrell, must be added to the four specimens recorded by that gentleman.'

Stevenson (1870 (2): 48) in a footnote, says: 'In the Magazine of Natural History for 1831 (Vol. IV. p. 163.), in 'A list of scarce birds killed in Suffolk since the autumn of 1817', sent as addenda to the list of Mr. J. D. Hoy, of Stoke-by-Nayland, (Vol. III. p. 436), Mr. Edward Acton, of Grundisburgh, states that a bird of this species was "shot at Friston, near Aldborough [sic], on October 3rd, 1828, by a shepherd by the name of Smith", and this specimen is believed by Dr. Bree (Field 1857, Vol. XXX. p. 465) to be the one preserved in the late Mr. Hoy's collection, at Boile's [sic] court, near Brentwood, the case containing Mr. Hoy's bird, being labelled, "shot in 1828". This example is not mentioned by Yarrell, but in the five instances given by that author of the occurrences of the Cream-coloured Courser in England...it is worthy of note that, although said to be a scarce migrant even in the south of Europe, this species has appeared less frequently (including the two Norfolk examples), in the south of England, than in counties further to the north.

In every instance but one (April), also, where the date is known, this species has occurred in autumn, not less than six having been seen or killed in October.'

Babington (1884-86: 239) adds: 'the label has now disappeared, but the entry in the MS. catalogue runs thus: "Courser, shot, 1828; extremely rare".' Babington states he examined this specimen.

P. R. Lowe, Editor (1923) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XLIV. p. 93, at the 285th Meeting of the Club held on 11th June 1924 at Pagani's Restaurant, London, says: 'Lord Rothschild exhibited a British-killed specimen of "Cream-coloured Courser" (Cursorius cursor) recorded by John David Hoy among rare birds killed in Suffolk since 1827 (Magazine of Natural History, Vol. IV. p. 163, 1831) as having been shot by a shepherd named Smith at Freeston [sic], near Aldeburgh, on Oct. 3rd, 1828. John David Hoy lived at Stoke-by-Nayland on the River Stone, and was a constant correspondent of Yarrell. He furnished the latter with many of his records of rare birds for the first edition of British Birds, including that of the first British Pectoral Sandpiper. Hoy died in 1839.'

Accepted locally by Ticehurst (1932: 332) who says: 'This bird was in the Hoy collection, where I examined it, and was latterly in the Tring Museum.'

Wood (2007: 59) states that this specimen is still in the Saffron Walden Museum.

5). 1828 Yorkshire Holme, near Market Weighton, obtained, undated.

(Allis, 1844; Clarke & Roebuck, 1881; Seebohm, 1883-85; Harting,1901; Nelson, 1907; Chislett, 1952; Mather, 1986).

History Clarke & Roebuck (1881: 70) say: 'Holme, near Market Weighton, one killed in 1828, by Hon. Chas. Stourton's keeper (Allis, fide Strickland).'

Admitted nationally (Seebohm 1885 (3): 63).

Nelson (1907 (2): 567) says: 'Thomas Allis, in his Report on the Birds of Yorkshire, 1844, thus: - "Cream-coloured Courser. - Arthur Strickland informs me that...another in 1828 by the keeper of the Hon. Chas. Stourton of Holme [on Spalding Moor], near Market Weighton".'

Accepted locally (Chislett 1952: 270; Mather 1986).

6). c. 1840 Lincolnshire Near Marshchapel, caught exhausted, undated.

(Yarrell, 1871-85; Witherby et al., 1940-52; Smith & Cornwallis, 1955; Lorand & Atkin, 1989).

History Howard Saunders, Editor (1882-84 (3): 240, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'Mr. Cordeaux informs the Editor that the collection of the late Rev. J. Mossop, of Covenham, contained one which had been captured in an exhausted state near Marsh Chapel, on the coast of Lincolnshire, about 1840.'

Cordeaux (1899: 29) says: 'The late Rev. John Mossop, of Covenham, had one in his cabinet taken on the coast of Lincolnshire, at Marshchapel, in a very exhausted state when captured, this was about 1840.'

7). 1845 Hampshire Sopley, shot, undated, now at Hampshire Cultural Trust, Chilcomb House, Winchester..

(Kelsall & Munn, 1905; Cohen, 1963; Clark & Eyre, 1993; Clark, 2022).

History Kelsall & Munn (1905: 284-285) say: 'A specimen in the Hart collection at Christchurch, was shot at Sopley, in 1845, by a shepherd in the employ of Mr. W. Tice.'

8). 1846 Northumberland Near Cheswick, immature male, shot, 9th November, now at Chelmsford Museum, Essex.

(Eds., History of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club 2: 200; Gray, 1871; Harting, 1872; Hancock, 1874; G. Bolam, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1896: 77; Evans, 1911; Bolam, 1912; Galloway & Meek, 1978-83; Wood, 2007).

History Eds. (1842-49) in the History of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club, Vol. II. p. 200, in a footnote, says: 'Cursorius isabellinus - A young male bird of this species was killed near Cheswick on the 9th of November, 1846, by Mr. David Rowtin (in the preventive service), who shot it during a strong gale from the south, being chased by gulls. It afterwards returned and settled on the land, where it was shot by him on the following day.'

Gray (1871: 251) says: 'It may not be out of place to record here the following notice taken from the Proceedings of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club for 1847, which I have not seen quoted elsewhere: - "Cursorius isabellinus - a young male bird of this species was killed near Cheswick on the 9th of November, 1846, by Mr. David Rowtin (in the preventive service), who shot it during a strong gale from the south, being chased by gulls.'

Harting (1872: 132) adds: '...in the collection of Mr. Broderick', while Hancock (1874) p. 96, adds: '...is preserved in Mr. Brodrick's collection.'

George Bolam (1896) in the Annals of Scottish Natural History, Vol. V. p. 77, also states it to be preserved in Mr. Brodrick's collection.

Evans (1911: 194) says: 'The former specimen used to be in the collection of Mr. W. Broderick [sic], the well-known devotee of Falconry.' Bolam (1912: 507) says: 'This rare casual visitor to this country has twice occurred in Northumberland. Both these are referred to by Hancock, the first having been shot at Cheswick, about four miles south of Berwick, on 9th November, 1846. The Cheswick specimen was first seen "during a strong gale from the south, being chased by gulls. It afterwards returned and settled on the land, where it was shot on the following day". (Hist. Berwickshire Naturalists' Club, Vol. II. p. 200). It was a young male. It is rather curious that these two rare birds should have been found so nearly on the same spot on the coast, and at the same time of year.'

Wood (2007: 58) states that this specimen is in the Hope Collection in Chelmsford Museum, Essex.

Comment Owned by Mr. William Brodrick, Barrister, of Belford and Chudleigh.

9). 1847 Norfolk Morston, seen, autumn.

(Stevenson, 1870; Yarrell, 1871-85; Lubbock, 1879; Riviere, 1930; H. H. Edwards, British Birds 28: 242; Seago, 1977).

History Stevenson (1870 (2): 49) says: 'The first intimation of the probability of this bird having appeared on our coast was given me by the Rev. E. W. Dowell, who writes: "In the autumn of 1847, Mr. Wood, of Morston, near Blakeney, told me that there was a strange bird frequenting his fields, something like a plover, which ran very fast. He had seen it for several days, and it appeared very tame, but, although I went after it at once, of course it was gone. From Mr. Wood's description, I had no difficulty in recognising this bird as the Cream-coloured Courser".

To this statement I may add that Mr. Wood is well acquainted with all the ordinary forms of plover, Tringae, and other shore-birds frequenting that portion of the coast, and but for some marked peculiarity in this instance would not have informed Mr. Dowell of the supposed rarity.'

Southwell, Editor (1879: 72, 2nd ed.) in Lubbock's Fauna of Norfolk, says: '...there is no doubt that it has been observed on two occasions in Norfolk, first at Morston, in the autumn of 1847...in neither case was the bird procured.'

Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 240, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'The evidence of competent observers led Mr. Stevenson (B. of Norfolk, II. p. 49) to believe that an example of the Cream-coloured Courser was seen near Blakeney in the autumn of 1847.'

H. H. Edwards (1935) in British Birds, Vol. XXVIII. p. 242, says: '...but I see in R. Lubbock's book, Fauna of Norfolk, that it has been observed on two occasions, namely at Morston in 1847 and at Westacre in 1855.'

10). 1853 Dorset Batcombe Down, shot, undated.

(Mansel-Pleydell, 1873, 1888; Yarrell, 1871-85; F. L. Blathwayt, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society 55: 195; Prendergast & Boys, 1983; Morrison, 1997).

History Mansel-Pleydell (1873: 25) says: 'In the year 1853, the present Lord Digby, while following the hounds, observed, with the practised eye of a sportsman, a strange bird on Batcombe Hill. The late Earl of Ilchester, next day sent his keeper Walton (still living) in search of it, who killed it. The bird proved to be the Cream-coloured Courser, and is in the possession of the present Earl.' Later, Mansel-Pleydell (1888) p. 79, adds: 'The present Lord Digby, when following the hounds in the year 1853, observed one on Batcombe Down, and the next day the Earl of Ilchester sent his keeper Walton, who found and shot it. It is now preserved in the Melbury collection.'

Admitted by Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 241, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds.

Admitted by F. L. Blathwayt (1934) in the Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society, Vol. LV. p. 195, under 'A Revised List of the Birds of Dorset'.

11). 1855 Norfolk West Acre, seen, autumn.

(Stevenson, 1870; Yarrell, 1871-85; Lubbock, 1879; H. H. Edwards, British Birds 28: 242; Riviere, 1930; Seago, 1977).

History Stevenson (1870 (2): 49-50) says: 'Still more recently Mr. Anthony Hamond, jun., pointed out to me a field near the roadside, at Westacre, in which a bird, exactly answering the description of the Cream-coloured Courser, was seen both by himself and his father on several occasions, as they drove past.

This was in the autumn of 1855 of 1856, but from a recent fall out hunting, he was unable to go after it with his gun, and his father, therefore, at last tried a chance shot at it from their vehicle, when the bird, though badly hit, flew too far for them to mark it down, and was never seen again. It was generally observed in company with a few peewits, frequenting the same spot, and after carefully watching it once or twice, within easy range, and afterwards consulting the figures in Yarrell and other authors, no doubt whatever existed in their minds as to the identity of the species.'

Southwell, Editor (1879: 72, 2nd ed.) in Lubbock's Fauna of Norfolk, says: '...there is no doubt that it has been observed on two occasions in Norfolk...and again in the autumn of 1855 or 1856 at Westacre; in neither case was the bird procured.'

Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 240, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'The evidence of competent observers led Mr. Stevenson (B. of Norfolk, II. p. 49) to believe that an example of the Cream-coloured Courser was seen near Westacre, in the autumn, in the year 1855 or 1856.'

H. H. Edwards (1935) in British Birds, Vol. XXVIII. p. 242, says: '...but I see in R. Lubbock's book, Fauna of Norfolk, that it has been observed on two occasions, namely at Morston in 1847 and at Westacre in 1855.'

12). 1855 Wiltshire East Down, near Tilshead, Salisbury Plain, adult, shot, 2nd October.

(J. Gardner, Zoologist 1855: 4913; Newman, 1866; A. C. Smith, Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine 12: 47-48; Yarrell, 1871-85; Smith, 1887; Buxton, 1981).

History J. Gardner of Oxford Street (1855) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XIII. p. 4913, dated 30th October, 1855, says: 'I have just received a very rare bird to stuff for Mr. Walter Langton, who shot it on East Down, Salisbury Plain, on the 2nd of this month (October): it is the Cream-coloured Courser. Mr. Langton was following a wild covey of birds which had pitched on the open down, when his pointers stood at this bird: it got up, flew about a hundred yards, and pitched again; he kept it in his sight and shot it on the ground. Mr. Yarrell had the bird to examine in the flesh; he was much pleased with it, and will figure the breast-bone in a Supplement to the History of British Birds, which he is now preparing.'

A. C. Smith (1870) in the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine, Vol. XII. p. 47-48, and Smith (1887) pp. 374-375, says: 'It is somewhat strange that the second species of this family should also have occurred in Wiltshire, inasmuch as it is one of the very rarest of the accidental visitors to this country, the straggler whose appearance I will now relate being only the fifth individual whose occurrence in Great Britain has been recorded.

It was met with by Mr. Walter Langton of Wandsworth, Surrey, when out shooting on the estate of Mr. Stephen Mills, at Elston, near Tilshead, on Salisbury Plain, on Oct. 2nd, 1855 (very near the same spot where the Pratincole, last described, was found). It was first seen on an open piece of down land called Eastdown, which was particularly bare of vegetation, as is generally the case at that season of the year with all down lands. The day was somewhat stormy, the wind south-west, and Mr. Langton and his companion were following a wild covey with a brace of young pointers, when one of them stood on the open down, and suddenly a Cream-coloured Courser took wing, almost immediately under the dog's nose, and apparently flew at the dog's face, who indeed snapped at the bird. Indeed in a second letter with which Mr. Langton most obligingly favoured me at the time, he calls particular attention to this strange fearlessness on the part of the bird; which however is quite in accordance with its general character.

It then flew with a lazy kind of flight about two hundred yards, and again settled on the open down, and began to run at a moderate pace, reminding Mr. Langton of the gait of the Landrail. That gentleman immediately followed it, and when within forty yards, shot it as it ran upon the ground. It was not heard to utter any cry, and the keepers who were present conjectured it to have been wounded: but as they seem to have arrived at that conclusion solely from the unwillingness of the bird to take flight, and its apparent disregard of danger, for which its natural disposition fully accounts, no regard need be paid to that surmise.

When first found by the dog, it was lying so close, that until it rose, though from the bare down, nothing was seen of it. It was sent to Mr. Gardner, the well known taxidermist in Oxford Street, who stuffed it, and who kindly communicated with me on the subject.'

Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 240-241, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, dds: 'The bird was sent for preservation to the late Mr. Gardner, of Oxford Street, who gave the Author the body, when skinned, for examination. It was a male, the stomach membranaceous, the contents a dozen skins of caterpillars, apparently of the Garden White Butterfly, one wireworm, one small-shelled snail, Helix ericitorum, and many fragments of the hard portions of small beetles. Its breast-bone is now figured.'

13). 1856 Devon Braunton Burrows, immature male, shot, late October.

(G. F. Mathews, Morris's Naturalist 6: 286-287; M. A. Mathew, Zoologist 1857: 5346; G. F. Mathews, Naturalist 1866: 359;

J. Gatcombe, Zoologist 1871: 2475; Harting, 1872; Moore, 1969).

History G. F. Mathews (1856) in Morris's Naturalist, Vol. VI. pp. 286-287, says: 'Cream-coloured Courser (Cursorius Isabellinus). A splendid male specimen of this rare bird has been shot by the Rev. J. Landon, of Braunton, in one of the Braunton marshes. I saw it in the shop of Mr. Fraine, the birdstuffer, of Barnstaple, before it was skinned, and he is going to preserve it for Mr. Landon.'

Murray A. Mathew of Merton College, Oxford (1857) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XV. p. 5346, undated, says: 'The great capture near Barnstaple this season, to detail which I have been chiefly led to connect together these ramblings notes, has been the Cream-coloured Courser, which was shot by the Rev. J. Landon, of Braunton, early in the last week of the past October; this is the first occurrence of this rare straggler to Europe in North Devon, and, I believe, anywhere in the south-western corner of England: the bird was met with in the Braunton Marshes, and was fired at several times by the Rev. J. Landon and his friend before they succeeded in killing it: Mr. Yarrell mentions but four instances of its occurrence in the British islands, and these are at very wide intervals.'

J. Gatcombe of Stonehouse, Devon (1871) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. VI. p. 2475, dated 6th January 1871, says: '...and on calling at the house of a gentleman in Braunton we were shown a lovely specimen of the elegant Cream-coloured Courser (Cursorius isabellinus) well mounted and in nearly perfect adult male plumage, showing only a few faint semilinear markings peculiar to the young.'

Harting (1872: 132) says: 'Two seen, one shot, Braunton Burrows, Oct. 1856: Mathew, Zoologist 1857, p. 5346. In the possession of the Rev. J. W. Landon, of Braunton, Devon.'

Comment Harting erroneously stated that there were two seen but in the references used there is no mention of there having been two.

14). 1858 Essex/Greater London Temple Mill Marshes, Stratford, female, shot, 19th October.

(E. Newman, Field 30th Oct., 1858: 357; E. Newman, Zoologist 1858: 6309; Harting, 1866, 1872; Christy, 1890; Swann, 1893; Glegg, 1929; Hudson & Pyman, 1968; Cox, 1984; Self, 2014).

History E. Newman (1858) in The Field of 30th Oct., 1858, Vol. XII. p. 357, and in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XVI. p. 6309, quoting from The Field, says: 'I am indebted to Mr. Cooper, of No. 28, Radnor Street, St. Luke's, for sending me, in the flesh, a very perfect female specimen of that rare bird the Cursorius isabellinus of naturalists. It was shot in the Hackney Marshes, on the 19th of October, by Mr. George Beresford, of the White House Fishery. The bird was exceedingly tame, probably tired with a long flight....Mr. Cooper will be pleased to show his more recent specimen to any gentleman who inclines to call on him at the above address.'

Harting (1872: 132) says: 'In the possession of Mr. Beresford.' While Christy (1890) p. 233, placing the record in square-brackets, says: 'The bird does not seem ever to have been actually obtained in Essex, but an example has occurred on the border.'

Swann (1893: 97) says: 'Mr. A. F. Gates sends me the following particulars of one of these birds which was shot on Hackney Marshes (close to the Essex boundary) on October the 19th, 1858, and recorded in both The Field and Zoologist at the time: - "It was followed for some time by a man who was shooting with a muzzle-loader, but having exhausted his supply of caps, he ran into the White House Inn to borrow a fresh supply, and having told the landlord that there was a strange bird about, they both went in pursuit. The day being very windy and stormy, the bird had not gone many yards from where it was first seen, and the landlord had the good fortune to shoot it. This man's name was Beresford, and the same inn is still kept on by his widow, who has this bird, amongst several others, on view. Cooper, of Radnor Street, St. Luke's, preserved the bird, and I believe large sums of money were offered for it at the time".'

Glegg (1929: 214) says: 'This bird had been considered as having been in Middlesex, but Mr. Christy was informed by Mr. A. F. Gates, who knew the man who had first seen it, and who was with Mr. Beresford when he shot it, that it was actually killed on the Temple Mill marshes, which are on the Essex side of the Lea. I saw it, when in excellent condition, on 2nd December 1922, in the collection of Mr. G. H. Beresford, Leigh-on-Sea, son of the original owner. Mr. Beresford has since died, and I have lost trace of the bird.'

15). 1862 Cumbria Allonby, near Maryport, killed, October.

(T. H. Allis, Zoologist 1865: 9418, 9457; Harting, 1872; Yarrell, 1871-85; Macpherson, 1892; Harting, 1901; Hutcheson, 1986).

History Thomas H. Allis of York (1865) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XXIII. p. 9418, dated November, 1864, says: 'A specimen of this very rare British bird was killed at Allonby, near Maryport, in October, 1864, and is now in my possession.'

T. H. Allis of York (1865) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XXIII. p. 9457, dated 3rd January 1864, adds: 'In my notice of the Cream-coloured Courser (Zool. 9418) there is a mistake in the date, which should stand October 1862, instead of 1864.'

Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 241, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, erroneously says: 'In October, 1864....'

Macpherson (1892: 348) says: 'The Cream-coloured Courser has only once straggled to the neighbourhood of the Solway Firth, This was in October, 1862. Mr. Richard Mann recollects the local interest which its appearance awakened among the local gunners, several of whom hastened in pursuit. The bird was shot on the beach at Allonby by a man named Costin. It was identified and purchased by the late Mr. T. H. Alliss of York. I understand that Mr. Alliss was in the habit of purchasing specimens of stuffed birds and insects from the local collectors, whom he saw from time to time in Cumberland when travelling in the tea-trade.'

16). 1866 Kent Near Sandwich, shot, early October.

(H. J. Harding, Zoologist 1866: 523; Harting, 1872; Ticehurst, 1909; Harrison, 1953).

History H. J. Harding of Deal (1866) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. I. pp. 523-524, dated 10th October, 1866, says: 'A specimen of this very rare bird was shot near Sandwich, by a man who knew nothing of its rarity, and allowed it to spoil; when it got into my hands it was nearly rotten.'

Ticehurst (1909: 415) says: 'A fourth specimen, also stated by Mr. Harting to have been in the Margate Museum, was recorded by Mr. H. J. Harding, of Deal...No date of the occurrence is given, but the letter is dated. The contents of the Margate Museum were sold by auction on October 12th, 1868.'

17). 1868 Clyde Cleghorn, near Lanark, Lanarkshire, first-winter male, shot, 7th October, now at National Museums of Scotland (NMSZ 1954.43).

(F. Walker, Zoologist 1868: 1459; J. A. Harvie-Brown, Zoologist 1868: 1482; "S." Field 19th Dec., 1868: 508; Anon., Proceedings of the Natural History Society of Glasgow 1: 238; Gray, 1871; Harting, 1872; Cordeaux, 1872; Annals of Scottish Natural History 1897: 216; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Thom, 1986).

History Francis Walker (1868) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. III. p. 1459, undated but probably October, says: 'A specimen was shot, on the 8th of October, at Cleghorn, near Lanark, by Mr. C. Walker, jun., of Braxfield, Lanark.'

John A. Harvie-Brown of Falkirk (1868) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. III. p. 1482, undated, says: 'This is the first specimen on record as having been obtained in Scotland: it was shot by my friend Mr. C. Walker, of Braxfield, Lanarkshire, who has recorded in The Zoologist for November (s.s. 1459), on his own estate, on the 7th of October, and by dissection proved a male. Through the kindness of Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., who dissected the bird, I have been enabled to put in Mr. Gray's hands full particulars regarding it, for his Birds of Scotland, and which need not be repeated at this time.'

"S." (1868) in The Field of 19th Dec., Vol. XXXII. p. 508, says: 'A fine specimen of this very rare bird, the first I believe ever obtained in Scotland, was shot during last month in Lanarkshire, and is now preserved at Mr. Small's, bird-stuffer, George Street [Edinburgh].'

Anon. (1858-69) in the Proceedings of the Glasgow Natural History Society, Vol. I. pp. 238, held on 29th December 1868, says: 'Specimens exhibited. A specimen of the Cream-coloured Courser (Cursorius europaeus), which was shot in a grass field near Lanark by Charles Walker, Esq., of Braxfield House, on the 7th of October last. This is the first record of its occurrence in Scotland.'

Gray (1871: 250) says: 'A male specimen of this very rare bird was shot in a grass field near Lanark by Charles Walker, Esq., of Braxfield House, on the 7th October, 1868. It was alone, and on rising, Mr. Walker remarked its flight to be somewhat dull and heavy, not unlike the common plover when newly disturbed. Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., to whom the body of the bird was forwarded, has obligingly furnished me, through my friend Mr. Harvie Brown, with the following notes taken by himself on its dissection: "In the throat was a small fly undigested; the tongue is narrow, with the appearance of bristles at its base, acute, and seven-eighths of an inch in length; the oesophagus three-and-a-half inches long, its width inconsiderable, the proventriculus three-quarters of an inch long. The stomach is of the ordinary shape, compressed, an inch long, and seven-eighths in breadth; inner coat full of wrinkles. The intestine only fourteen inches long; it varies in width. The croecca, which arise at a short distance from the end, are about two-and-a-quarter inches in length. The sternum closely resembles that of a Redshank".'

Cordeaux (1872: 86) says: 'Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., kindly forwarded for my examination the stomach of the Lanarkshire bird, shot on the 7th of October, 1868, and the first recorded specimen of this species killed in Scotland. I find, on reference to my note-book, that it contained exclusively the remains of Coleopterous insects.'

Comment This is [2001] a mounted specimen in the National Museums of Scotland (NMSZ 1954.43). It was presented by Mr. R. St. J. Yates, Oxford.

18). 1870 Northumberland Goswick, adult, killed, first week of November, now at Berwick Museum.

(J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1871: 2522, 2562; Harting, 1872; Galloway & Meek, 1978-83).

History J. H. Gurney, jun. (1871) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. VI. p. 2522, dated February, 1871, says: 'I am indebted to Mr. Gregson for the following interesting note: - "A Cream-coloured Courser was shot at Low Lynn, near Beal, in Northumberland, two months ago, and is now in the Berwick Museum".'

J. H. Gurney, jun. (1871) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. VI. p. 2562, dated 21 March 1871, says: 'The notice of the Cream-coloured Courser recently killed in Northumberland as inserted in the last number of The Zoologist is not quite correct. Mr. Gregson did not inform me that it was killed at Lowlynn, but in that neighbourhood, and I find from that gentleman that the actual locality was "the sea shore at Goswick, parish of Holy Island": the date was the first week in November, 1870.'

Bolam (1912: 507) says: 'The second occurrence for Northumberland occurred at Goswick, a little more than a mile further along the coast than the first record in 1846, in the first week of November, 1870. The specimen was purchased by the late Mr. Gregson, of Lowlynn, and presented to Berwick Museum. It was shot by the son of my old gossip, Reid, of Goswick, both father and son, "and of course other people, having seen it about the links, and the flat salt-grass between the cottages and the sea, for some days previously. It flew, as Reid described it, "like a hawk", and seemed to be taken as such by other birds, for it was a good deal mobbed by rooks and starlings. It was very thin, and in Reid's opinion was "pining away for want of proper food". It ran very fast over the flat ground, "stopping as if to pick up something every five yards or so", but when killed its stomach was quite empty. Judging from its plumage, it was apparently adult. It is rather curious that these two rare birds should have been found so nearly on the same spot on the coast, and at the same time of year.'

19). 1884 Cornwall St. Mawgan-in-Pydar, obtained, December, now at the Booth Museum, Brighton.

(T. Cornish, Zoologist 1885: 113; Ed., Field 18th May 1889: 687; Penhallurick, 1969; Wood, 2007).

History Thomas Cornish of Penzance (1885) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. IX. p. 113, says: 'A specimen of the Cream-coloured Courser, Cursorius gallicus, has been procured by Mr. W. H. Vingoe, from Mawgan, near St. Columb, where it was taken in December last.'

In an Editorial (1889) in The Field of 18th May, Vol. LXXIII. p. 687, on the sale of Vingoe's collection at Stevens, Covent Garden, in May, 1889, he says: 'Two of the most interesting lots in the collection - namely, 62 (a Cream-coloured Courser)...both of which were stated to have been killed in Cornwall, were not sold, the biddings, it is presumed, not coming up to the reserved price.'

Wood (2007: 59) states that this specimen is still in the Booth Museum of Natural History, Brighton.

20). 1886 Ceredigion Ynyslas, Dyfi Estuary, shot, 2nd October.

(J. Hooton, Field 16th Oct., 1886: 555; A. Hooton, Zoologist 1887: 269; T. H. Nelson, Field 16th Apr., 1887: 534; Forrest, 1907; Lovegrove, Williams & Williams, 1994).

History J. Hooton of Kersal Towers, Higher Broughton (1886) in The Field of 16th Oct., Vol. LXVIII. p. 555, says: 'I have just returned from a short visit to Ynyslas, about eight miles from Aberystwyth, a part of the coast visited by vast numbers of birds, and think it may interest the readers of your Naturalist columns to know that my son, after a good race on the sea shore, succeeded in shooting a bird which we have ascertained to be a Cream-coloured Courser, which is now being carefully preserved by Mr. Skinner, taxidermist, of Ynyslas. On reference, I find that this is about the fifth recorded instance of this rare bird being found in the British Islands, and consider this sufficient reason for placing the fact at your disposal.'

[The occurrence of the Cream-coloured Courser on the coast is unusual, as this bird is ordinarily found on open ground inland. We should be glad to know how the species was identified, whether by comparison with a good figure or specimen of the Courser, or on the authority of some well-known ornithologist. Examples of this bird have been met with in the British Islands much oftener than our correspondent supposes. At least a score of instances of its occurrence will be found mentioned in Harting's Handbook of British Birds. - Ed.]

A. Hooton of Kersal Towers, Higher Broughton, Manchester (1887) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XI. p. 269, undated, says: 'A specimen of the Cream-coloured Courser, was shot by me on the 2nd October last, at Ynyslas, near Borth, Cardiganshire, on the estuary of the Dovey. As the skin has been seen and identified by Mr. (T. H.) Nelson, of Bishop Auckland, and Mr. Nicholson, of Manchester, there can be no doubt about the species.'

T. H. Nelson of Bishop Auckland (1887) in The Field of 16th Apr., Vol. LXIX. p. 534, says: 'Referring to your Editorial note appended to the account of 'Reported occurrence of a Cream-coloured Courser near Aberystwyth', in The Field of Oct. 16, 1886, I may say that I have seen the bird in question, and can confirm Mr. Hooton's opinion as to its identity.

It is without doubt a Cream-coloured Courser, and is now being restuffed by Mussell, of Middlesbro'.

Mr. Hooton tells me it was very tame, and allowed him to approach within easy shot of it on the beach at Juyslas [sic]. I shall be glad if you will insert this note in your paper, as your remarks on the account sent by the shooter seemed to cast a doubt on the identity of the species.' [It is to be regretted that this authentification was not published last October, immediately after the appearance of the first communication on the subject. We trust, however, that it may not be too late to answer the purpose in view. - Ed.]

Forrest (1907: 324) adds: 'Mr. A. Hooton was the son of Mr. J. Hooton (now Captain Hooton), of the same address, who informed him in a letter dated 5th April, 1901, that the skin is still in his possession.'

21). 1896 Wiltshire Erlestoke Down, shot, 10th October.

(A. C. Smith, Zoologist 1896: 434-435; Eds., Ibis 1897: 142; G. B. Hony, British Birds 7: 288; Buxton, 1981).

History Alfred Charles Smith of Old Park, Devizes (1896) in The Zoologist, 3rd series Vol. XX. pp. 434-435, says: 'I beg to record a recent instance of the occurrence of Cursorius isabellinus in Wiltshire. It was shot by Mr. George Bovill on October 10th, on the downs above Erlestoke, that is to say, on the north-western edge of Salisbury Plain, and within a very short distance of the spot where Mr. Langton killed another specimen at Elston, near Tilshead, on October 2nd, 1855 (see Zoologist for 1855, p. 4913).

Mr. Bovill obligingly informs me that the bird was running along the down, but got up and flew as he approached it, when he shot it on the wing. It seemed tired, as if after a long flight, and it is probable that it had been blown across by the heavy gales which prevailed from the south-west for two days previously.

It is singular that a second Wiltshire specimen of so rare a visitor to our shore should be met with in the same locality as its forerunner in 1855. It is also strange that almost all the occurrences of this bird within the British Isles have been in the month of October, when boisterous winds so often prevail from the south-west, whereas the home of the "Cream-coloured Courser" is essentially the east and south (see Seebohm's British Birds, Vol. III. pp. 63-4); but I am afraid we are still very far from a knowledge of the causes which bring unexpected stragglers to our shores.'

[The bird above referred to was forwarded for preservation to Messrs. Rowland Ward & Co. of 166, Piccadilly, who obligingly sent it while still unskinned for our inspection. On placing it in the scales we found it to weigh a trifle over 4½ oz., or the average weight of a Common Snipe. - Ed.]

In an Editorial (1897) in The Ibis, Vol. XXXIX. p. 142, they say: 'At the Meeting of the Linnean Society on Nov. 5th, a specimen of Cream-coloured Courser (Cursorius gallicus), which had been shot on Salisbury Plain, at Earlstoke, on the 10th of October last, was exhibited by Mr. Harting, who gave particulars of the occurrence, and stated that another example of this bird had since been obtained in Bouley Bay, Jersey.'

Accepted locally by G. Bathurst Hony (1914) in British Birds, Vol. VII. p. 288, under 'Notes on the Birds of Wiltshire'.

22). 1916 Kent Dungeness, adult, seen, 9th September.

(H. G. Alexander, British Birds 10: 263-264; Harrison, 1953).

History H. G. Alexander (1917) in British Birds, Vol. X. pp. 263-264, says: 'During 1916 I visited Dungeness and Romney Marsh several times in the spring for a day or more, and once in the autumn for a week.

The following observations seem worthy of record: - ...My autumn visit extended from September 6th to 13th. I have never stayed at Dungeness itself at quite that time before, and this fact may possibly account for the unusually interesting birds observed, but the first bird of interest seen was presumably only a straggler. On the afternoon of the 9th, I came upon a Cream-coloured Courser (Cursorius gallicus) about a mile from the point on the shingle. Its rich colour made it fairly conspicuous against the comparatively dull shingle. Its actions reminded me most nearly of Golden Plover, of which, as it happens, there were three on another part of the shingle; but as I had seen these arrive from the north-east it is certain that the Courser did not come with them. As I approached the Courser it ran more or less away from me, occasionally stopping for an instant to pick something off the ground; I was within about twenty yards of it when it flew. The contrast of the black wing-feathers with the rich buff of the upper-parts gave the bird a most striking appearance as it flew. It did not go far, and I continued to watch it for a long time. It was an adult bird. Next morning it had gone.'

23). 1934 Norfolk Thornham, juvenile, shot, 3rd October, now at Castle Museum, Norwich (Acc. No. NWHCM: 1935.16).

(H. H. Edwards, British Birds 28: 242; Seago, 1977; Dye, Fiszer & Allard, 2009).

History H. H. Edwards (1935) in British Birds, Vol. XXVIII. p. 242, says: 'A Cream-coloured Courser (Cursorius c. cursor) was obtained at Thornham, in Norfolk, on October 3rd, 1934. It was shot by a wildfowler on the coast, and was sent on to me for preservation. I think that I am right in saying that this is the first Courser to be taken in Norfolk, but I see in R. Lubbock's book, Fauna of Norfolk, that it has been observed on two occasions, namely at Morston in 1847 and at Westacre in 1855. It is going to be added to the Norwich Museum collection.'

[Mr. Edwards kindly sent us the bird for examination. It was a bird of the year retaining a number of feathers of the juvenile plumage. - Eds.]

24). 1941 Somerset Minehead Golf Course, adult, 24th to 26th September.

(A. V. Cornish, British Birds 35: 131-132; F. C. Butters, E. W. Hendy, R. W. Howell & H. G. Hurrell, Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society Report 1941: 9-11; Hendy, 1943; Somerset Ornithological Society, 1988; Ballance, 2006).

History A. V. Cornish (1941) in British Birds, Vol. XXXV. pp. 131-132, says: 'A Cream-coloured Courser, an adult, as we discovered later, was first seen about 16: 30 hours on 24th September 1941, on Minehead Golf Course. My wife was with me at the time, but neither off us had binoculars. The bird was standing on a ridge about 100 yards distant, and although the light was not very good it showed up distinctly against the grass background. We approached slowly to within some 40 yards, and then it ran off quickly down a slope, but stopped and turned after it had covered about 25 yards.

My first impression was of a light sandy-buff coloured bird with a short tail, and long white legs - very noticeable on the scanty grass. In general form it reminded one of a small, long-legged Golden Plover. We got to within about 35 yards before it again ran off for a short distance. This time we were able to get within 25-27 yards of it, and could see the short dark beak and black primaries. Two golfers on one of the greens were now directly ahead of it, and when we tried to get closer it rose and flew off in the direction of Dunster beach. It appeared much larger when on the wing, and as it crossed in front of us we had a splendid view of the black wing-feathers, and black under wing-coverts. It zig-zagged slightly rather like a Snipe Gallinago gallinago, but was not nearly as fast. Shortly after rising it uttered a single rather deep "wutt". This was repeated in about two seconds. Owing to poor light and lack of field glasses it was impossible to see the head and neck markings on this occasion.

Next morning, September 25th, my wife was down on the Golf Course by 10: 45 hours, and by 11: 00 had located the bird. With field glasses the black and white lines over the head and neck were easily observed.

My wife was soon joined by an intelligent groundsman who makes a habit of noticing any unusual birds on or near the Golf Course, and he stated he had first seen the bird the previous afternoon, so it seems probable that September 24th was the date of its arrival. The same afternoon, in company with Mr. E. W. Hendy, I again visited the links, but it was not until we had covered about three quarters of the course that I suddenly saw the bird flying directly towards us. It was still taking a somewhat zig-zag course, canting over to either side as it swerved. It was seen to turn, and apparently flew back in a large circle, and we found it standing on a ridge about 50 yards to our right. With the sun behind us we had an excellent view. It was considerably tamer than the day before, and even when we got to within some 25 yards it did not run, but simply worked away from us, frequently stopping to feed. Sometimes it would stand bolt upright, and looked very small on its milky-white legs. When feeding, which it appeared to be doing on the swarms of crane flies which had invaded the Golf Course, one was reminded of a Ringed Plover, for it had the same curious jerky way of bringing up its short tail as it dipped forward. Once while standing on the ground, it uttered a short note like "wutt".

The general colour was a pale sandy buff - isabelline. Broad white superciliary lines extended from above the eye to the nape, where there was a light grey patch; while under these well defined black lines went from behind a beady black eye to the nape. The breast appeared to be rather more creamy than buff. The primaries were black, and when it finally flew the tail-feathers seemed to be tipped with white. Shortly after rising it uttered a sharp double note like "ark, ark". It again headed in the direction of Dunster beach. The following afternoon, September 26th, was the last occasion on which it was seen.'

F. C. Butters, E. W. Hendy, R. W. Howell & H. G. Hurrell (1941) in the Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society Report, Vol. XIV. pp. 9-11, quote from British Birds above.

25). 1947 Cumbria Grune Point, Skinburness, adult male, shot, 15th October, now at Tullie House Museum, Carlisle.

(E. Blezard, British Birds 41: 92; E. Blezard, North Western Naturalist 23: 273; Hutcheson, 1986).

History E. Blezard (1948) in British Birds, Vol. XLI. p. 92, says: 'A Cream-coloured Courser (Cursorius c. cursor) was shot on Grune Point, Skinburness, on the Cumberland shore of the Solway Firth, on October 15th, 1947, by Mr. John Stockdale, who has given it to the Carlisle Museum. It proved to be an adult male. This bird, the second of the species to be recorded for Cumberland, was all alone on grassy ground at the tip of the point and, so far as is known, had not previously been seen in the district. It was described as having a woodcock-like flight when flushed.

The stomach contents, comprising the eighty-nine small creatures here listed, add to the variety of food given in The Handbook. Mollusca: Gastropoda. Littorina saxatilis (Olivi), 2. Arachnida: Opiliones. Harvestmen, 3. Insecta: Dermaptera. Earwigs (I), 4. Coleoptera. Rove Beetles (Philonthus varius Gyll.), 2. Weevils (Sitona fiavescens Marsh), 62, Weevil (Alophus triguttatus F.), 1. Click Beetle (Corymbites sp.), 1. Hymenoptera. Red Ants (Myrmica ruginodis Nyl.), 11. Diptera. ? Species, 2. Lepidoptera. Larva of a noctuid moth, 1. There were besides, four small pieces of grit.

All the food had been freshly taken, one of the molluscan shells, still retaining remains of the animal, and many of the beetles being more or less entire. The molluscs were very kindly determined for me by Mrs. N. F. McMillan, and the insects by Mr. F. H. Day, F.R.E.S.'

26). 1949 Clyde Near Luggiebank, Lanarkshire, three, 10th October.

(D. Stephen, Daily Record 13th October 1949; J. A. Gibson, Glasgow and West of Scotland Bird Bulletin 2: 31; E. V. Baxter, Scottish Naturalist 67: 102, rejected; Eds., Scottish Birds 4: 230; D. G. Andrew, Scottish Birds 5: 15; D. Stephen, Scottish Birds 5: 28-29; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007).

History J. A. Gibson (1952) in the Glasgow and West of Scotland Bird Bulletin, Vol. II. No. 3. pp. 31-32, says: 'Mr. David Stephen watched three for several hours on furrows and stubble beside his home at Luggiebank, by Cumbernauld Station, Lanarkshire on 10th October, 1949. An account of this discovery, with a drawing of the bird, appeared in the Daily Record for Thursday, 13th October 1949. The only previous Scottish record was one shot near Lanark on 8th October 1868.'

E. V. Baxter (1955) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LXVII. p. 102, says: 'Before acceptance, further corroboration is required.'

In an Editorial (1966) in Scottish Birds, Vol. IV. p. 232, it says: '...it is now being reassessed.'

NOT PROVEN

0). 1816 Yorkshire Near Wetherby, shot, April.

(Atkinson, 1820; Fleming, 1828; H. Denny, Annals of Natural History 1840: 387, 390-391; Allis, 1844; Yarrell, 1845; Morris, 1851-57; Clarke & Roebuck, 1881; Yarrell, 1871-85; Seebohm, 1883-85; E. R. Waite, Naturalist 17: 106; Nelson, 1907; Chislett, 1952; Mather, 1986).

[Saunders, 1899].

History Atkinson (1820: 165) says: 'We were in possession of a specimen of this bird, which unfortunately, had been so much injured by the shot, and so ill preserved, that it fell prey to insects. It was shot near Wetherby, in April 1816: it was seen alone, frequenting a piece of dry fallow ground, over which it ran with great swiftness, making frequent short flights, and was approached without difficulty. The haunts and habits of this bird, as described by Latham, exactly agree with the foregoing, and in no respect do they differ in plumage, except that in our specimen, the black patch behind the eyes was undivided by any pale streak, and the crown of the head was ash coloured. We made a correct drawing of this bird when in its most perfect state. W.'

Fleming (1828: 112) says: 'Cursorius isabellinus. Cream-coloured Courser - Temm. Orn. II, 513. - This species is a native of Africa, rarely visiting Europe. Three instances only have occurred of its having been killed in England. The first at St Albans, in Kent, at the seat of William Hammond, Esq. who presented it to Dr. Latham. The second was shot in North Wales in 1793, by Mr. George Kingston of Queen's College, Oxford. The third is stated in Atkinson's Compendium of British Ornithology, p. 165, as having been shot near "Wetherby in April 1810".'

H. Denny (1840) in the Annals of Natural History, Vol. V. p. 387, says: 'As the occurrence of one bird in particular, mentioned in this list, may be questioned from its extreme rarity (Cursorius isabellinus), I have only to observe, that I did not see the specimen myself, but I have seen a most accurate and highly finished drawing taken from the bird, which was in such a mutilated state when it came into the possession of my friend George Walker, Esq. as to render its preservation impossible, having been killed several days; but from his sound practical knowledge as a naturalist, and his abilities as an artist, which are well known in this neighbourhood, there cannot remain the least doubt as to the authenticity of the species. I may add, that its peculiar habit of running, and now and then taking short flights, struck the person who shot it (who however was no ornithologist) as something new, and its beak again being different from the Plovers, for which he at first mistook it, caused him to keep it.'

Further, pp. 390-391, he adds: 'Cursorius isabellinus. Very rare. A specimen was shot in April 1816, in a fallow field near Wetherby, by Mr. Rhodes of that place, which afterwards came into the possession of George Walker, Esq. of Killingbeck Lodge, near Leeds.'

Yarrell (1845 (2): 433, 2nd ed.) says: 'A third specimen is recorded in Atkinson's Compendium. This example was shot near Wetherby, in April 1816; it was seen alone, frequenting a piece of dry fallow ground, over which it ran with great swiftness, making frequent short flights, and was approached without difficulty. The occurrence of this third example has been further confirmed to me by letter from Mr. Denny of Leeds, who sent me word that it was shot by Mr. Rhodes, a brewer of Leeds, and that the specimen passed into the possession of George Walker Esq. of Killingbreck Lodge, [near Leeds]. From this bird several drawings were made.'

Accepted locally (Clarke & Roebuck 1881: 70). Admitted nationally (Seebohm 1885 (3): 64).

Edgar R. Waite, Sub-Curator of Leeds Museum (1891) in the new series of The Naturalist Vol. XVII. p. 106, quotes the same story but adds: 'There cannot remain the least doubt as to the authenticity of the species.'

Nelson (1907 (2): 566) says: 'The first reference to its occurrence in Yorkshire appears in Atkinson's Compendium of British Ornithology, where one is recorded as having been killed near Wetherby, in April 1816, but unfortunately so much injured by the shot, and so ill preserved, that it fell prey to insects....The haunts and habits of this bird, as described by Latham, exactly agree with the foregoing, and in no respect do they differ in plumage except that in the specimen under notice the black patch behind the eyes was undivided by any pale streak, and the crown of the head was ash-coloured.

A correct drawing of this bird was made when in its perfect state (Atkinson's Compendium, 1820, p. 165). This is the same example as is referred to by Thomas Allis, in his 'Report on the Birds of Yorkshire', 1844, thus: - "Cream-coloured Courser. - Formerly the only Yorkshire specimen was the one recorded by my friend H. Denny, in his 'Catalogue of Leeds Birds': in the Annals of Natural History, Vol. VII. he says a specimen was shot in April 1816, in a fallow field near Wetherby, by Mr. Rhodes of that place. It came into the possession of Mr. J. Walker of Killingbeck Lodge, near Leeds; he observes, "I did not see the specimen myself, but I have seen a most accurate and highly finished drawing taken from the bird, which was in such a mutilated state when it came into the possession of my friend Mr. J. Walker, as to render its preservation impossible, having been killed several days; but from his sound practical knowledge as a naturalist and his abilities as an artist, which are well known in this neighbourhood, there cannot remain the least doubt as to the authenticity of the species"....'

Accepted locally (Chislett 1952: 270) and by Mather (1986: 251) who adds that these drawings were inspected by Mr. Denny, who included it in his 'Catalogue of Leeds Birds'. The specimen was beyond preserving. Thomas Allis gave a detailed account of this bird's occurrence in his report of 1844.

Comment Mr. Waite's statement would suggest that naturalists' were sceptical of this record. Apart from two seen in March in Devon, which were rejected, this would be the only spring record and is therefore unacceptable. Saunders (1899) 2nd edit., says: 'With one doubtful exception (this spring record) all have been between October and December.'

Mr. Denny was involved with the rejected American Mottled Owl. Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. Not acceptable. Probably another "Tadcaster Rarities" fraud.

0). 1825 Yorkshire Harewood Park, killed, undated.

(Allis, 1844; Morris, 1851-57; Gould, 1862-73; Morris, 1866; Harting, 1872; Clarke & Roebuck, 1881; Yarrell, 1871-85; Seebohm, 1883-85; Harting, 1901; Nelson, 1907; Chislett, 1952; Mather, 1986).

[Saunders, 1899].

History Morris (1856 (5): 15) says: 'A second by the gamekeeper of Lord Harewood in 1825.' Harting (1872) p. 132, says: 'One, Yorkshire, 1825: Gould, fide Lord Harewood, Birds of Great Britain.'

Accepted locally (Clarke & Roebuck 1881: 70).

Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 239, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'A fourth [for Britain] is said by Gould (B. of Gt. Britain) to have been killed in the same county [Yorkshire] in 1825 by one of Lord Harewood's keepers.'

Seebohm (1885 (3): 63) says: '1825. Harewood Park, Yorkshire (Gould, B. Great Brit. IV. pl. 44).'

Locally, Nelson (1907 (2): 567) says: 'Thomas Allis, in his 'Report on the Birds of Yorkshire', 1844, thus: - "Cream-coloured Courser. - Arthur Strickland informs me that another specimen of this rare bird was killed in 1825, by the keeper of the Earl of Harewood.' While Mather (1986: 251-252) adds: 'Thomas Allis recorded this bird on the authority of Arthur Strickland. It was killed by one of the keepers of Lord Harewood.' It was also accepted (Chislett 1952: 270).

Comment T. Allis (1844) in the 'British Association' Reports, pp. 60-61, under the title of 'Report on the Birds of Yorkshire', states that he can find no mention of a Cream-coloured Courser. Lacks adequate details. Not acceptable.

0). 1841 Kent Near Margate, male, shot, 21st December, now at Margate Museum.

(S. Mummery, Annals & Magazine of Natural History 8: 473; Ticehurst, 1909; Harrison, 1953).

[Harrison, 1953].

History S. Mummery (1842) in the Annals & Magazine of Natural History, Vol. VIII. pp. 473-474, says: 'Mr. Mummery informs us that there has just been placed in the Margate Museum a fine male specimen of the Cream-coloured Courser, an African bird, and rarely found north of the Mediterranean (See Yarrell's Birds). Some years ago one was shot by Mr. Hammond of St. Alban's Court, near Wingham, in Kent. The present specimen was shot by a boy employed in keeping Crows in a field at Dandelion, near Margate, on the 21st of last December, and sold for fourpence to a dealer.'

Ticehurst (1909: 414) says: 'Three others have apparently been taken in Kent, the first of these is said to have been shot near Margate in 1841.... The contents of the Margate Museum were sold by auction on October 12th, 1868. An adult bird in the Hammond collection at Canterbury, though entirely without data, may possibly be one of the Margate birds, since it is evidently a very old specimen and it is in a small case by itself.'

Harrison (1953 (1): 405) says: 'There are three other reputed Kentish specimens: one of these was said to have been shot in 1841 near Margate.'

Comment Stephen Mummery was known to be unreliable (Ticehurst 1909) and the abnormal date makes this record suspicious. Harrison had no faith in it. Not acceptable.

0). 1849 Kent Westbrook, near Margate, obtained, November.

(Yarrell, 1871-85; Ticehurst, 1909; Harrison, 1953; Taylor, Davenport & Flegg, 1981).

[Seebohm, 1885].

History Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 241, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, in a footnote, says: 'With reference to the county, it may be mentioned that Mr. J. E. Harting has furnished the Editor with the following note: - "October 20th, 1868. Saw to-day a specimen from the sale of the Margate Museum, said to have been obtained at Westgate, near Margate, November 1849".' It was not listed by Seebohm (1885 (3): 63-64).

Ticehurst (1909: 415) says: 'The Margate Museum apparently contained other specimens also, for Mr. J. E. Harting supplied Howard Saunders with the following note: ...An adult bird in the Hammond collection at Canterbury, though entirely without data, may possibly be one of the Margate birds, since it is evidently a very old specimen and it is in a small case by itself.'

Comment Saunders used the words "said to have been" plcaing no faith in the record. Not admitted (Seebohm 1885). Not acceptable.

0). 1852 Herefordshire Backney Marsh, shot, undated, now at Hereford Museum.

(Bull, 1888; Gilbert & Walker, 1954; Walker & Smith, 1975).

[Witherby et al., 1940-52; P. H. Downes, Herefordshire Ornithological Club Report 1999: 657].

History Bull (1888: 213) says: 'A specimen of this rare visitor from Africa was shot at Backney Marsh, near Ross, in 1852. It passed into the possession of Mr. Moss, and is now with his collection at the Hereford Museum.'

Gilbert & Walker (1954: 48) state that Bull (1888) recorded one that was shot at Backney marsh in 1852. However, it was not recorded by Witherby et al., (1940-52).

0). 1860 Devon Braunton Burrows, two, seen, late March.

(G. F. Mathew, Zoologist 1860: 6980; G. F. Mathew, Field 12th May 1860: 392; Yarrell, 1871-85; Moore, 1969).

[Witherby et al., 1940-52].

History Gervase F. Mathew of Barnstaple (1860) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XVIII. p. 6980, and in The Field of 12th May, Vol. XV. p. 392, quoting from The Zoologist, dated 2nd April 1860, says: 'While shooting on Braunton Burrows, about ten days ago, I observed a pair of strange birds in the air flying round one of the large ponds left by the rain. After a little while they settled on the margin of the pond; they were then about 300 yards from me. By keeping out of sight behind the sand-hills I was able to get within a hundred yards of them, and I was greatly surprised, on looking over the brow of the hill, to see a fine pair of the Cream-coloured Courser (Cursorius isabellinus), one an adult male in splendid plumage, the other a female or young bird of the year in immature plumage. They were accompanied by a single Lapwing, which kept incessantly getting up and flying over their heads screaming, which caused the birds to be wild. I waited about half an hour behind the hill, in the hope that they would walk within shot, but they were wise and would not; so I tried to walk within shot of them, as I found sitting still rather unpleasant, particularly as the day was exceedingly windy and cold. The birds, however, would not wait, but flew off directly I showed myself, and pitched again close to the next pond, some distance off. I followed, but could not get near them, and this time they flew right up into the clouds out of sight, uttering a peculiar cry. I am quite certain as to the identity of the species, else I would not trouble you with this.'

Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 241, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'Two are recorded by Mr. Gervase F. Mathew as having been seen in the same place [Braunton Burrows] in March, 1860 (Zool. p. 6980).'

Comment Lacks adequate details in view of no specimen being obtained; also, it was seen in spring and that he was able to sex an adult! Probably misidentified. Not accepted nationally (Witherby et al. 1940-52).

0). c. 1860 Lancashire & North Merseyside Whitehall Estate, St Michael's-on-Wyre, shot, autumn.

(Yarrell, 1871-85; Mitchell, 1885).

[Saunders, 1892].

History Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 241, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'Mr. F. S. Mitchell, of Clitheroe, writes to the Editor that he has examined a Courser which was shot in the autumn of 1860, among a flock of Peewits, near St. Michael's-in-Wyre, Lancashire.'

Howard Saunders (1892: 212-213, 2nd ed.) in the revised edition of Mitchell's Birds of Lancashire admits to having misidentified this specimen under poor light, and that it was a Sociable Plover - the first for Britain.

Comment Misidentified – Sociable Lapwing. Not acceptable.

0). Pre 1862 Somerset No locality, obtained, undated.

(J. Brooking Rowe, Transactions of the Plymouth Institution 1862-63).

[F. L. Blathwayt, Victoria County History of Somerset 1: 157].

History F. L. Blathwayt (1906 (1): 157) in the Victoria County History of Somerset, placing the record in square-brackets, says: 'In a 'List of the Birds of Devon', published, in Trans. Plymouth Institution, 1862-63, Mr. J. Brooking Rowe mentions that an example of this bird was obtained in Somerset, but no particulars are given.'

Comment Lacks a precise date and location for a scientific record. Not acceptable.

0). 1869 Dorset Christchurch, Hampshire, obtained, undated.

(J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1869: 1511-1512; Harting, 1872).

[Cohen, 1963; Cohen & Taverner, 1972].

History J. H. Gurney, jun. of Darlington (1869) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. IV. pp. 1511-1512, after a list of birds, says: 'These without dates: - Cream-coloured Courser (not in Mr. Wise's list). Mr. E. Hart or his father (the late Mr. W. Hart) had all the above-named birds in the flesh.'

Comment Is this a mistake for the 1845 record? Misinterpretation. Not acceptable.

0). 1911 Sussex Near Wartling, male and female, shot, 5th May, both now at Leicester Arts & Museums (Acc. No. Z28.2006.13.5 & Z28.2006.13.4).

(J. B. Nichols, British Birds 5: 50; W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 30: 187; E. N. Bloomfield, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 2: 3;

Walpole-Bond, 1938; A. H. J. Harrop, British Birds 111: 228-230).

[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].

History J. B. Nichols (1911) in British Birds, Vol. V. p. 50, says: 'A couple of Cream-coloured Coursers (Cursorius gallicus), a male and female, were shot in Pevensey Marshes, near Wartling, on May 5th, 1911, and were examined in the flesh by Mr. Ruskin Butterfield.'

W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Editor (1912) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XXX. p. 187, on the unexpected occurrences for 1911, says: 'A pair seen (one shot), Pevensey Marshes (Sussex), May 5th.'

Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (3): 117).

Comment Hastings rarities. Not acceptable.

0). 1911 Cheshire & Wirral Shining Tor, shot, 15th August.

(A. W. Boyd, Lancashire and Cheshire Fauna Committee Report 1933: 30;

Hedley Bell, 1962).

[Witherby et al., 1940-52].

History A. W. Boyd (1934) in the Lancashire and Cheshire Fauna Committee 20th Report, p. 30, says: 'On August 15th, 1911, Mr. Stanley Turner, of Macclesfield, was shooting in a gully of Shining Tor (alt. 1833 ft.) (near the Cat and Fiddle Inn, near the E. border of Cheshire) at an altitude of about 1750 ft. His retriever flushed a bird from a patch of reeds and Mr. Turner shot it.

The bird was unknown to all the keepers in the neighbourhood, but before its importance was realised the bird had been allowed to decompose, and finally the wings and feet were cut off and sent to a Mr. George Deane, of Richmond-on-Thames, who at once identified it as a Courser, and sent Mr. Turner a drawing of one, which Mr. Turner says was undoubtedly the same as the bird he shot.

It is most unfortunate that the bird was not preserved, as it had been recorded only 23 times in England, and never before in Cheshire. Most of the occurrences have been in October, November and December, and others in February, May, and September. This is therefore the first August occurrence known.'

Hedley Bell (1962) says: 'One was shot on Shining Tor near the "Cat and Fiddle" Inn on 15th August 1911 and that Coward appears to have satisfied himself with the record (Coward, 1910).'

Comment In volume I of Coward (1910) there is no mention of this species and why should there be, it was published a year before the occurrence of the said bird. However, Witherby et al. (1940-52) placed no faith in it.

0). 1913 Sussex Jury's Gap, male and adult female, shot, 21st February, both now at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery (Acc. No. 1962Z10.64 & 65).

(H. W. Ford-Lindsay, British Birds 6: 348; W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 34: 183; E. N. Bloomfield, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 2: 99; Walpole-Bond, 1938; Watson, 2010).

[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].

History H. W. Ford-Lindsay (1913) in British Birds, Vol. VI. p. 348, says: 'On February 21st, 1913, a fine pair of Cream-coloured Coursers (Cursorius gallicus) were obtained at Jury Gap. I examined them in the flesh on February 22nd, and found them in perfect condition, having the full spring-plumage. Like many of the wanderers obtained on our shores, these birds owe their fate to the fact that probably from an adverse wind they have been driven out of their course and arrive in a more or less exhausted condition, which accounts for the so-called "tameness" which makes them an easy prey to the collector. The protective colouring in this species is most marked, the black effectively breaking up the outline of the general colour, and when one sees the bird running on the sands, it must indeed be a difficult task to keep it in view.'

W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Editor (1914) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XXXIV. p. 183, on the unexpected occurrences for 1913, says: 'A pair shot, Jury Gap, Romney March (Kent), February 21st.'

Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (3): 117).

Watson (2010) in detailing the J. L. Auden collection in the Birmingham Museum lists two specimens obtained at Jury's Gap, Lydd, Kent, on 21st February 1913, adding that they were bought by J. B. Nichols from Bristow on 6th March 1913.

Comment Locality is in Sussex (Sussex Bird Report 1953: 5). Hastings rarities. Not acceptable.

0). 1920 Sussex Pevensey, shot, 15th August.

(W. R. Butterfield, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 3: 167; Walpole-Bond, 1938).

[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].

History W. Ruskin Butterfield (1921) in the Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist, Vol. III. p. 167, says: 'A female was shot at Pevensey on August 15th.'

Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (3): 117).

Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.

0). 1943 Sussex Pett Level, two, 7th October.

(N. F. Ticehurst, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 7: 153).

[Not in BOU, 1971].

History N. F. Ticehurst (1949) in the Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist, Vol. VII. p. 153, says: 'Two, Pett Level, Oct. 7th, 1943 (R.C. 112). Fifth record for our area.'

Comment Not accepted locally (des Forges & Harber 1963; James 1996).