238 THE PRATINCOLE 
near Flamborough Head there used to be droves of them. They 
were occasionally seen in the middle of the large uninclosed plains 
with which Norfolk formerly abounded, and in such situations he 
had himself seen them. When disturbed they move off rapidly, 
employing both their feet and wings, rising heavily, but at an 
angle so acute that they advanced perhaps a hundred yards 
before they attained the height of a man. When once on the 
wing, they flew swiftly. They formerly bred in the parish of 
Deepdale, and he could himself recollect an instance when an 
attempt was made to rear some in captivity from the eggs, but failed. 
The Bustard is now only a very rare visitor to Great Britain. Its 
last fertile eggs were taken in Norfolk and Suffolk about the year 
1838. 
ORDER LIMICOLE 
FAMILY GLAREOLIDZ 
THE PRATINCOLE 
GLAREOLA PRATINCOLA 
Crown, nape, back, scapulars, and wing-coverts, greyish brown; throat and 
front 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 brown; 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 Black 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 catch- 
ing flies while on the wing, it approaches the Swallows. Hence 
it was named by Linneus, Hirundo 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 
wing. 
