CHARADRIAU^. 291 



The Sub-Family, GLAREOLIN^, or Pratincoles, 



have a short bill, which is broad at the base, and laterally 

 compressed at the tip ; the wings very long, with the first 

 quill the longest ; the legs moderate, with the tip of the tibia 

 naked ; the toes three in front, and one posteriorly, which is 

 elevated. 



Genus GLARtOLA, Brisson. 

 Bill short, broad at the base, much compressed to the tip, 

 with the culmen depressed at the base, elevated and aiched 

 to the tip, the lateral margins curved ; the nostrils basal, 

 lateral, and oblique ; wings lengthened, pointed, extending 

 beyond the end of the tail, with the first quill longest ; tail 

 moderate, more or less forked ; legs moderate and slender, 

 with the tarsi scutellated, and the middle toe and claw 

 lengthened ; the outer toe longer than the inner, and united 

 at the base to the middle one ; the hind toe very short, 

 elevated, but touching the ground ; and the claws rather 

 long, nearly straight, that of the middle toe slightly pecti- 

 nated on one side. 



555. Glareola Nordmanni, Fisch. ; Harti., Or. 



W. Af., p. 211 ; 01. Pratincola, Pall., Zoogr. Ross. 

 As. II., p. 150 ; Gl Melanoptera, Nordm., Bullet. 

 Mos., 1842, p. 314, PI. 2 ; G. Nordmanni, Fisch., 

 ib. ; G. Pallasii, Sehleg. Krit. Uebers ; Small Locust- 

 bird of Colonists. 



General colour above, cinereous-brown, glossed with green ; 

 this shade extending over the wing- feathers, which are 

 black; throat tawny- white, with faint brown streaks, and 

 separated from the breast, which is cinereous, by a crescent- 

 shaped collar ; belly, vent, and rump, white ; tail long and 

 forked, the two outer and longest pair of feathers white, 

 tipped with black ; the rest white at the base, brown at the 

 ends ; legs black in a dried skip, but reddish in a fresh one ; 

 eyelids and cere at base of bill also red. Length, 10" ; 

 wings, 7" 3'" ; tail, 4" 3"'. 



This Pratincole differs from the European bird, and may at once 

 be distinguished from it by the under side of the wings, which in this 

 species is black, in the other white. It appears in great numbers on 

 the Eastern frontier and Natal during the visitations of the locusts, 

 upon which it feeds. I am informed that it hawks about the clouds of 

 the destroying insect, now and then darting into the mass, and never 

 faMing to secure a victim. It is said to run and fly with great 

 swiftness. 



