NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIKVS. 



769 



while the southern Stone Plover loves rocky plains and open forest 

 conntiy. Tlie Loug-billed Stone Plover has been found as far south 

 on the western coa^t as Point Cloates. 



Gould was favoured with a specimen of this fine bird's egg from 

 Commander J. M. E. Ince, who obtained it in the Port D:u-win district. 



The example in my collection was kindly presented to me by 

 Mr. Dudley Le Souef, who obtained it dm-ing one of his tiii>s to the 

 Cooktown district, 1894. 



FAMILY^CURSORIID^ : COURSERS. 



594. — Stilti.v is.\bell.'^, Vicillot. — (515) 

 Glareola grallaria, Temminck. 



PRATINCOLE. 



Figure. — Gould ; Birds of Australia, fol., vol. vi., pi. 22. 



Kefercnce. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xxiv., p. 51. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Ramsay : Proc. Linn. See, N.S. 

 Wales, vol. vii. (1882) ; Campbell : Southern .Science Record 

 (1883); North: Austn. Mus. Soc, pi. i6, fig. 9 (1889); 

 Campbell : Proc. Austn. Assoc, fol. v., p. 438 (1893). 



Gengraphiral Distribution. — Australia in general ; also New Guinea, 

 Aru Islands, Ke Islands, Moluccas, Celebes, Flores, Java and Borneo. 



Nest. — Usually a. bare spot where the earth or sand assimilates the 

 colouration of the eggs. , 



Efig". — Clutch, two to three, usually two ; at first sight not imlike 

 those of the lighter coloured type of the Black-fronted Dottrel ( Jagialitis 

 melanops), with the exception of being proportionately larger, rounder 

 and not so pyiiform in shape ; surface slightly glossy ; colour, usually 

 yeUowish-buil or stone-colour, but sometimes of a deep stone shade, 

 lightly marked almost all over with spots and splashes of umber, inter- 

 mingled with patches of grey. Dimensions in inches of proper paii's : 

 A (1) 1-29 X -94, (2) l-23'x-95; B (1) 1-25 x -96, (2) 1-22 x -97. 

 (Plate 21.) 



Ohscrvations. — Authors agi-ee that this swallow-like Plover is the 

 most elegant of its genus. The general colour of the bird is reddish- 

 brown or rtifous, with a darker marking of rich chestnut on the abdomen ; 

 the feet and legs are black, and the long black pinions extend, when 

 folded, 2\ inches beyond the tail. Altogether the Pratincole possesses 

 a swaUow-Uke appearance, especially with its long pointed wings, which 

 give the bu'd a great power of flight, enabling it to take its food (insects 

 of various kinds) on the wing if it chooses, while it is equally at home 

 running swiftly over the ground with its slender legs after insect prey. 

 The total length is about nine inches. 

 49 



