COLLARED PRATINCOLE. 53 



in these birds, being fifteen in number, like those of a Tringa 

 or Totanus, the inner elongated, but in a less degree than 

 those of the Probers. They are certainly not the wings of a 

 Swallow; nor do they differ essentially from those of a 

 Plover, Sandpiper, or other bird of the order to which these 

 belong. The forked tail, of twelve feathers, resembles that 

 of a Swallow ; but a forked tail, as in the Kite, may occur 

 in families of which the tail is generally rounded. The form 

 of the tail, therefore, indicates nothing very particular, but 

 appears from analogy to have relation simply to flight, it 

 being often associated with long, narrow, and pointed wings, 

 as in the Terns ; though what its action may be I do not 

 understand. The plumage agrees with that of some of the 

 Rasorial birds, and with that of some Cursitorial and Tenta- 

 torial ; so far as regards the structure of the feathers and 

 their plumule, the bird might be of any of these groups. It 

 is decidedly not a Pluvialine, Tringine, Totanine, or Scolo- 

 pacine bird, nor a Swallow, nor a Swift ; nor of any order of 

 Land Birds, so called. It may be a Rasorial, but is more 

 probably a Cursorial bird. The inspection of the exterior, I 

 think, shews nothing more. 



