GLABEOLA. 319 



Glareola orientalis (Leach). The Eastern Pratincole. 



Glareola orientalis, Ltach, Jerd. B. Ind. ii, p. 631 ; Hume, Hough 

 Draft N. $ E. no. 842. 



I have been unable to ascertain anything in regard to the nidifi- 

 cation of the Eastern Pratincole or Larger Swallow-Plover in India. 

 Mr. Blyth, however, tells us that " it breeds sometimes in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Calcutta, where I have seen two or three brought to the 

 provision bazaar too young to fly. A specimen, with the feathers 

 half-grown, is mounted in the Calcutta Museum, and another which 

 must have been bred at no great distance." 



Mr. Gates, however, found numerous eggs in Pegu. He 

 writes : " I have found eggs of this species from the 16th April 

 to the 1st May, on which latter date some eggs were fresh, but 

 others much incubated. Three appears to be the maximum num- 

 ber of eggs, but two only are more frequently laid. The eggs are 

 deposited on the bare ground, burnt up sandy paddy-fields being 

 much frequented. Xo great number of birds breed together, nor 

 have I ever found two nests very close to each other. The finding of 

 eggs is consequently very laborious work. When disturbed, the 

 sitting bird flies round one's head for a short time and then goes 

 away. But when the young are lying hid, then the birds display 

 great anxiety, and it is on these occasions that the bird squats on 

 the ground with wings outspread and neck stretched out. I fancy 

 this action is meant to counterfeit lameness, and so draw the in- 

 truder off the scent. 



" The young bird runs as soon as it is batched. Its colour is a 

 mixed pepper and salt, the black preponderating." 



The eggs of this species are undistinguishable from those of 

 Glareola pratincola. In shape they are broad ovals, as a rule Plover- 

 like, distinctly pointed towards the smaller end ; the ground-colour 

 varies from almost white through all shades of greyish, yellowish, 

 and drabby stone-colour, to an almost olive stone-colour. The 

 primary markings consist of blotches, streaks, specks, and spots 

 pretty thickly set about the whole egg, but not un frequently more 

 densely towards one end, of a brown which is almost black in most 

 spots, but which when thinly laid on varies from sienna to an umber- 

 brown. These markings are very Plover-like, and as in the other 

 Plovers vary a great deal in size and density in different eggs. Besides 

 these primary markings, there are usually a great number of pale 

 sepia clouds, spots, and blotches scattered about the egg, usually 

 most thickly where the primary markings are thickest. 



The eggs more resemble those of Cursorius gallicus and C. coro- 

 mandelicus than any others, but the markings are more blotchy and 

 less scratchy, and the eggs themselves are less broad and more 

 Plover-shaped than are those of the Coursers. 



In size the eggs vary from 1-12 to 1/25 in length, and from 0'9 

 to 0-96 in breadth ; but the average of a considerable series is 1-18 

 by 0-93. 



