BYGONE BIRDING (8): CREAM-COLOURED COURSER AT LONDON'S HACKNEY MARSHES

From The Zoologist, 1858

I am indebted to Mr. Cooper 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, 1858, by Mr. George Beresford.

The bird was exceedingly tame, probably tired with a long flight.

The last recorded instance of the occurrence of this bird in Britain is in the Zoologist for 1855.

That specimen was shot by Mr. Walter Langton, on East Down, Salisbury Plain, on the 2nd of October, 1855. 

Mr. Langton was following a wild covey of partridges which had pitched on the open down when his dogs stood at this bird. 

It rose, flew about a hundred yards, and settled again. 

He followed it, and finally shot it on the ground.

The late Mr. Yarrell saw and handled the bird in the flesh.
I had the same pleasure.

Mr. Cooper will be pleased to show his more recent specimen to any gentleman who inclines to call on him.

Edward Newman