380 CHAEADEID^. 



The Great Plover is migratory, visiting the eastern and 

 southern counties of England in the beginning of April, 

 and retiring in August or September. Their flights are 

 always performed by night, for Avhich their large and 

 prominent eyes well suit them, as well as for capturing 

 nocturnal beetles, which form part of their food. 



THE COLLARED PEATIXCOLE. 



GLAREOLA TORQUATA. 



Crown, nape, back, scapulars, and wing-coverts, greyisli brown ; throat and 

 fron^ of the neck white, tinged with red, and bounded by a narrow black collar, 

 which ascends to the base of the beak ; lore black ; breast whitish brown ; 

 lower wing-coverts chestnut ; under parts white, tinged with brownish red ; 

 tail-coverts, and base of tail-feathers, white ; the rest of the tail dusky, much 

 forked ; beak black, red at the base ; Irides reddish bro\vii ; orbits naked, 

 bright red ; feet reddish ash. Length nine inches and a half. Eggs pale stone 

 colour, spotted with grey and dusky. 



The Pratincole, called on the Continent, but without good 

 reason, "Perdrix de mer," or Sea Partridge, is a rare 

 visitor to Great Britain, inhabiting for the most part the 

 northern part of Africa, and the countries in the vicinity of 

 the Don, the Volga, the Caspian, and the Elack Sea. It has 

 been observed also from time to time in several of the 

 countries of Europe. 



In some of its habits it resembles the Plovers, as it 

 frequents open plains and runs with great rapidity. In 

 nidification, also, and in the shape, colour, and markings of 

 ^ its eggs it is associated with the same tribe ; while in its 

 mode of flight and habit of catching flies while on the 

 wing, it approaches the Swallows. Hence it was named by 

 Linnaeus, Ilirundo pratincola, and under this designation 

 it is figured in Bewick. Its true place in the system is, 

 however, undoubtedly among the waders, several of which 

 not only feed on insects, but are expert in catching them 

 on the wins. 



