76 Miscellaneous. 



absolutely that of the Moth-hunters, and not by continuous flap- 

 pings, as in all the Charadriadce. But what first led me to perceive 

 the affinity which this genus bears to Caprimvlgus, was the expres- 

 sion of the physiognomy of the living bird, as I held it in my hand, 

 and, to descend to particulars, the semi-tubulate form of its nares, 

 and downward curvature of the short bill seen alike in both, though 

 the latter is so much larger and stouter in Glareola ; then, looking 

 to the feet, the similitude was at least equally striking, while the 

 form of the wings and tail, and mode of flight, were such as might 

 be expected to occur in a diurnal modification of the family Capri- 

 mulgidae, and together with the wide gape helped to remove this 

 genus from the grallatorial order altogether. Even the egg, as 

 figured by Mr. Yarrell, has not the pointed form at one end, charac- 

 teristic of those of the Snipe and Plover series ; but would appear 

 to resemble nearly that of a Caprimulgus, in shape as well as in mark- 

 ings. On the other hand, the discrepancies of Glareola with any of 

 the varied forms of noctural Caprimulgidce * are sufficiently obvious 

 externally, while internally there are some very strongly marked 

 differences ; such as the configuration of the sternum, which is doubly 

 emarginated posteriorly, and otherwise more approximates to the form 

 of this important portion of the skeleton of the Charadriadce, while 

 the tongue also is broad and flat, with a thin serrated tip, and the 

 muscular coat of the stomach is considerably developed, — particulars 

 at variance with the type of Caprimulgidce, but which I only now 

 briefly advert to, since I have not lately procured an example of the 

 latter family with w^hich to institute an anatomical comparison. Upon 

 the whole, I have arrived at the opinion that the Pratincoles are more 

 nearly related by affinity to Caprimulgidce than to any other family 

 in the class, but I hesitate as to whether they should be actually in- 

 cluded therein, though, if so, I think that they should be regarded 

 as at least constituting a very distinct subfamily, apart from the noc- 

 turnal genera, and thus I incline provisionally to arrange them. — 

 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, No. 41. p. 467. 



LINES ADDRESSED TO THE REV. W. KIRBY, M.A. 



The following verses, communicated by our valued correspondent, 

 Henry Denny, Esq., are so beautiful, and so well adapted for the re- 

 commendation of our pursuits, that we make no apology in present- 

 ing them to our readers. 



To the Rev. William Kirby, M.A., F.R. ^ L.S. S(C. SfC, 



I know not which to envy most. 

 Thy knowledge of the Insect host. 



Tenants of earth or air ; 

 Or thy acquaintance with each scene 

 Of barren heath, or meadow green. 



To which their tribes repair. 



The first has cast around thy name 

 A purer and a happier fame 



* Caprimulgus, jEgotheleSy Podargus, Steatornis, Nyctibius, 



