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 LIMICOLiE 

 FAMILY GLAREOLID.E 



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 nicr, 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 Linnaeus, Hiritndo pratincola, and under this 

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

 is, however, undoubtedly, among tlie waders, several of which 

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

 wing. 



