70 BRITISH BIRDS. 



G. melanoptera, also occurs^ which differs in having the iinder surface of 

 the wings black instead of chestnut. This bird passes through Constanti- 

 nople and the valley of the Nile on migration, and winters throughout 

 South Africa. The specific distinctness of this species is, however, very 

 doubtful, as Severtzow says that he obtained intermediate forms in 

 Turkestan. 



In Mongolia^ extending northwards into Eastern Dauria, China, and 

 throughout the Oriental Region, as far west as Scind, and ranging south- 

 eastwards through the islands of the Malay Archipelago into Australia, a 

 nearly allied species, G. orientalis, occurs. This species is probably only 

 a summer migrant to INIongolia, and only a winter visitor to the Malay 

 Archipelago and Australia. It differs from the western species in having 

 a much less forked tail, the outside feathers of which are only one inch 

 instead of two inches longer than those in the centre ; it also agrees with 

 G. melanoptera in having no white tips to the secondaries. 



The Pratincole is an inhabitant of sandy plains, large marshes, and bare 

 elevated country. Sometimes it frequents more cultivated districts, flying 

 over the cornfields and pastures in search of food ; but its favourite haunts 

 are on the sandy tracts either near the sea or on the tablelands of the 

 interior. The Pratincole spends a considerable portion of its time in the 

 air, hawking for insects like a gigantic Swallow, skimming along with 

 graceful motion, wheeling and darting about, chasing its prey in all direc- 

 tions. Upon the ground it is equally at its ease, and runs to and fro with 

 surprising swiftness, in spite of its short legs. Sometimes it even wades 

 in the little pools with which its haunts often abound ; frequently it flies 

 at a considerable height, occasionally very low, just skimming along above 

 the gi'ound. 



The food of the Pratincole consists exclusively of insects, many of which 

 it catches on the Aving, or snaps up as it runs along the ground. The 

 insects most preferred appear to be beetles and grasshoppers. Much of its 

 food is searched for in the evening. Its note is a peculiar rattle, impossible 

 to express on paper; but the principal sound may be represented by kr 

 rapidly repeated. When I was in the valley of the Danube in 1883 I 

 had many opportunities of studying the habits of this bird. In some 

 districts they abounded, especially on some newly-ploughed land near 

 Lake Tuzla. They flew constantly over us uttering their rattling note, or 

 perched on the ground, lifting and drooping their wings to attract our 

 attention. We came to the conclusion that they were on the point of lay- 

 ing, and were probably under the mistaken impression that they had 

 already begun to do so. The flight of this bird is very Swallow-like; 

 they hawked over the reeds exactly like the SAvallows, and turned with 

 almost as much ease. Birds we shot had been feeding on beetles. Tliere 

 is no bird with which I am acquainted that so persistently and constantly 



