COMMON PRATINCOLE. 

 Glaeeolid^.] 



GLAREOLA PRATINCOLA (Linnjsus). 



Explanation of Plate. 



Figure 1. South Russia, May 27, 1889. In collection of H. Massey, Esq. 

 „ 2. Syria. In collection of F. Poynting. 

 „ 3. Angora, Asia Minor, May 30, 1887.") 



„ 4. Ditto. May 27, 1888. ) ^" "^^^^^^^'^^ "^ H. Massey, Esq. 



„ 5. South Russia, May 4, 1890. In collection of F. Poynting. 

 „ 6. Morocco, June 2, 1890. In collection of H. Massey, Esq. 



,, 7. Lenkoran, Caspian Sea, May 1893. ") 



„ „ , -r. -.IT „ -.^r.^ f In collectiou of F. Poyuting. 



„ 8. South Russia, May 6, 1890. J J & 



The Common Pratincole is an accidental visitor to the British Islands, about 

 twenty occurrences, mostly in England, having been recorded. 



Mr. Howard Saunders describes the geographical distribution of this species as 

 follows * : — " Early in April the Pratincole returns from its winter-quarters in 

 the south to North Africa, where large numbers remain to breed ; while others 

 pass through Egypt and nest in Palestine, Asia Minor, the Dobrudscha, the 

 neighbourhood of Missolonghi in Greece, Sicily, the Balearic Islands, and the 

 plains at the mouth of the Guadalquivir in Spain. In other parts of the Mediter- 

 ranean basin it is chiefly known as a migrant, though some may remain on the 

 west coast of Italy, along which the ' Pernice di mare ' is well known on passage. 

 It continues its course to the Camargue in the south of France, where again it 

 finds suitable breeding-ground ; a few ascending the valley of the Phone to Savoy, 

 and spreading out over the central, western aud northern districts of France as 

 far as the mouth of the Somme. In Belgium, Holland, Denmark, and Germany 

 — according to the latest authorities — it is not known, the mountain ranges of 

 Central Europe forming, apparently, a barrier which it does not cross ; and, 

 though found in Austro-Hungary, it is very rare in Poland ; while in Southern 

 Russia and on the eastern side of the Black Sea the representative form is 



* ' Manual of British Birds,' pp. 517, 518. 



