COLLARED PRATINCOLE. II3 



Collared Pratincole. Glareola prafuicola (Linn.). 



As an irregular wanderer from southern Europe or western 

 Asia, the Collared Pratincole (Plate 46) has occurred nearly 

 thirty times in England, Scotland, and the northern islands, 

 for it has even reached the Shetlands and the Flannans. 

 Most of the records are from southern and eastern counties, but 

 the earliest were from Lancashire and Cumberland. Normally 

 it winters in Africa. 



The long, narrow wings and forked tail, together with the 

 swift, sustained flight, suggested the Swallow to Linnaeus ; but 

 in general appearance, and in its harsh angry voice if its 

 breeding colony is invaded, it has much in common with the 

 terns. The long legs and excellent running power of the 

 Pratincole are those of a plover ; it is a tern-like plover with a 

 short, curved bill. The forked tail alone is enough to put it 

 apart from other plovers, and, as if to emphasise this character, 

 it jerks its tail up and down when at rest. The times of its 

 appearance in Britain are varied ; it cannot be looked upon as 

 a regular spring and autumn migrant ; it has also been noted 

 in summer and winter. As our islands are far from its usual 

 winter quarters, we must consider it a repeatedly lost rambler. 

 The collar, from which the bird gets its name, is a black line 

 bordering its dull yellow chin and upper throat. The general 

 colour of the mature bird is clove brown on the upper parts, 

 yellower brown on the breast, and white on the abdomen ; the 

 tips of the secondaries and the base of the tail are also white. 

 Under the wing the axillaries and coverts are reddish brown, 

 and in flight this is sufficient to distinguish it from the only 

 other pratincole on the British list. The bill is dark brown, red 

 at the base, the legs are blackish, the irides brown. Young 

 birds have bars of black and buff on the back and wings. 

 Length, 10*5 ins. Wing, 7-5 ins. Tarsus, 1-25 ins. 



Series II. I ' 



