76 glaeeolib.t;. 



Genus RHINOPTILUS, StricU. 



Rhinoptilus chalcopteriis (Temm.). 

 (Plate III. fig. 2,)' 



Cursorius chalcopteius, Sharjie, ed. Layartl, Birds S. Africa, p. 656, 

 part. (1875-84) ; Seebohm, Geogr. Lidr. Charadriidcfi, p. 246 (1887). 



ELiDoptilus chalcopteme, &/iarpe, Cat. Biids B. M. xxiv. p. 48 (1896) ; 

 id. Batid-l.i.-p. 170(1899). 



The eggs of the Bronze-winged Courser resemble those of many 

 species of Plover. They are of a pointed oval form and have no 

 gloss. The ground-colour is pale buff, and this is thiikly blotched 

 ■with deep black and underlying pale purple. The markings are 

 very evenly spread over the entiie shell and are in many places 

 confluent. Three examples measure respectively : 1*5 by 1*1 ; 

 1-43 by 1-07; 1-42 by 1-1. 



3. Henga, 3300 feet, 4 days S.W. of II. Craw.shay, Esq. [P.]; 

 Deep Bay, Lake Nyassa, NjV. iS^S". 



Family GLAREOLIU^. 



Genus GLAREOLA, Briss. 



Glareola pratincola (Linn.). 



Glareola torqiiata, Thicv. I'ortjjiunz. ges. Tog. tab. hiii. fig. 1, u-h (1845- 

 64); He^vitsot, l.ygs of Bnt. Birds, ii. p. 2f 0, pi. l.\xv. (]b56). 



Glaieola praliiuola, Baedeker, Bier Bvr. Tog. tab. 2'J. fig. 4 (1855-63) ; 

 Salvi?!, Ibis, 1859, p. 354 ; Tristram, Ibis, 1860, p. 79 ; Saiiiiders, 

 Ibis, 1871, p. 386; Dresser, Birds Bur. vii. p. 411 (1874) ; Uttbohm, 

 Bnt. Birds, iii. p. 69, pi. 24 (1885); id. Gevgr. Bistr. C/iaradri.da>, 

 p. 256 (1887) : Oafes ed. Hvn.e, JS'ests ^- Bggs hid. B. iii. p. 318 

 (18f0) : Pogniivg, Bggs of Brit. Bird.-:, p." 7, pi. 2 (1895-6); 

 Seebohm, Bc/(/s of Brit. Birds, p. 128, pi. 36. fig.s. 4, 5 (1896) ; &harpe. 

 Cut. BirdsB.M. xxiv. p. 53 (1896) ; id. Hand-l. i. p. 170 (18t)9). 



The eggs of the Common Pratincole vary from a regular oval to 

 an elliptical and even spheroidal shape. They have no gloss. The 

 ground ranges from cieam-colour and pale stone-colour to pale 

 buff and dull yellow, and in many specimens it is tinged with pale 

 green. The markings are profusely and very evenly spread over 

 the entire shell. They consist of spots and blotches of very dark 

 brown or black, which are often confluent and cover about half the 

 ground. The underlying markings consist of spots and blotches of 

 grey or dull purple and are frequently very conspicuous. Numerous 

 specimens measure from I'l to I'cio in length, and from 'S to 1'05 

 in breadth. 



